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Jose Mourinho reportedly wants to return to Man Utd. (Image: Getty)
Jose Mourinho reportedly wants a second chance as Manchester United manager if Sir Jim Ratcliffe decides to sack Erik ten Hag this summer. And he already has a key agreement with the United co-owner ahead of what's expected to be a transformative summer transfer window.
According to the Manchester Evening News, Mourinho has told those close to him that he would "walk" to M16 if it meant he would receive a second term as boss.
He was sacked in December 2018 after just over two years in charge, lifting the Carabao Cup, Europa League and Community Shield and finishing second in the Premier League.
Mourinho's exit followed a soured relationship with United's hierarchy and fractures in his dressing room due to public criticism.
However, Ratcliffe has already instilled a new-look team in control of football operations, including a change of chief executive, sporting director and technical director.
The INEOS-led structure reportedly plans to oversee a clearout this summer, with all but a handful of senior players in the shop window to ease FFP and PSR pressure and raise funds for much-needed recruitment.
And Mourinho seemingly aligns with United's new co-owner's stance that it's time to get ruthless in shifting players who have underperformed at Old Trafford for too long.
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Man Utd are expected to host a summer clearout. (Image: Getty)
In an interview with The Telegraph last month, the Portuguese coach suggested he didn't previously have the environment to succeed at United.
He added that there are, incredibly, players who he wanted to offload over six years ago still on the club's wage bill. The same names will likely be at the forefront of INEOS' exodus.
"From a professional point of view it [my relationship with ex-chief executive Ed Woodward] was not the best. I am who I am. I am a football man," Mourinho explained.
"Ed comes from a different background and what Ten Hag has in his time at Manchester United I didn't have. I didn't have that level of support. I didn't have that level of trust.
"So I left sad because I felt I was at the beginning of the process. In some moments, I felt if they trusted me and believed in my experience things could be different.
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"There are still a couple of players still there I didn't want five or six years ago. I think they represent a little bit of what I consider not the best professional profile for a club of a certain dimension.
"But I did my job there. Time always tells the truth. I would love Manchester United to succeed."
Mourinho suffered a rift with Anthony Martial during his stint in Manchester. Luke Shaw is another first-team player who endured a sticky relationship with the ex-Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur boss.
Martial will leave as a free agent when his contract expires in June, likely alongside Raphael Varane, Jonny Evans and Tom Heaton.
