Mourinho signs pre-contract with Manchester United

Jose Mourinho has signed a pre-contract agreement with Manchester United with a view to replacing Louis van Gaal as manager of the English giants next season, Spanish newspaper El Pais reported on Sunday.

Citing sources from Gestifute, the agency company owned by Mourinho's representative Jorge Mendes, El Pais suggest a deal has been struck that could see the former Chelsea boss make £15 million (Dh79.7 million), even if he doesn't end up taking charge at Old Trafford.

If United don't complete the deal by May 1, Mourinho will be entitled to £5 million compensation, should negotiations drag on beyond June 1 or break down, the 20-time English champions would owe the Portuguese a further £10 million.

Mourinho was sacked by Chelsea in December after losing nine out the first 16 games of their Premier League defence.

"I look forward to the future," Mourinho told BT Sport this week. "I want my football back, time flies and July will be just around the corner." The report, which cited a source with links to the company run by Mourinho's agent Jorge Mendes, said United wanted a flexible deal because of a split in the Old Trafford board as to whether the 53-year-old was the right choice for the club.

Van Gaal is under mounting pressure if he is to see out the final season of a three-year deal he signed in 2014. United were dumped out of the Europa League by bitter rivals Liverpool 3-1 on aggregate on Thursday and face an uphill battle to make it into next season's Champions League via a top-four finish in the Premier League.