PSG will have to pay £20m for Jose

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN face having to pay a record £20million compensation package for Jose Mourinho if they want to lure the Manchester United manager from Old Trafford in the summer.

United are insured against outside interest in Mourinho by holding an option to extend his contract by 12 months before it runs out in 2018.

It means that unless United’s form unexpectedly implodes before the end of the season, the club will either agree a completely new deal with Mourinho or trigger the extension, which would leave Mourinho with two years left on his £10million-a-year deal.

United want Mourinho as part of a long-term strategy after four turbulent years after Alex Ferguson. They have finished seventh, fourth, fifth and sixth in the Premier League.

The club have invested heavily in their academy and aim to find one homegrown player per season to break into the first-team.

Mourinho’s outbursts have been viewed by the club as psychological ploys to try and get United back to the top. And the club are happy to follow his transfer targets with Valencia playmaker Carlos Soler, Sweden winger Emil Forsberg, Antoine Griezmann and Gareth Bale all being monitored.

Cristiano Ronaldo, 32, is regarded as an unlikely recruitment because of his age. Interest would depend on Real Madrid being willing to accept a knockdown transfer fee.