There has been a breakthrough in contract talks.
He may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but Jose Mourinho is here to stay, or so it seems. The Portuguese coach is close to extending his contract as Manchester United manager, with both club and Mourinho confident that a deal will soon be signed.
Discussions have been taking place for a while but there has this week been a breakthrough which will see Mourinho sign a contract under improved terms. After guiding United to the Europa League and the League Cup in his first season in charge, Mourinho sought an increase on his €17m-a-year salary at Old Trafford.
While United finished sixth in the Premier League last season under the former Chelsea and Real Madrid boss, clinching the Europa League in May secured a return to the Champions League. This season, Mourinho has successfully negotiated that competition’s group stage while the club currently sit second in the league. Should they remain there until the season’s end, it would be their highest finish since Alex Ferguson’s final season in charge.
Reports earlier in the season placed major question marks over Mourinho’s long-term commitment to United. However, there has been no clear indication from the 54-year-old that he is unhappy.
When asked about his future last month, Mourinho said:
“I am going to leave when the club wants me to leave because I have no intention to leave at all. My intention is to stay and to work and to improve and to bring the club to where the club belongs.”
Mourinho’s main ambition is to return United to the summit of English football. They current trail Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City by 12 points but there is a belief, on Mourinho’s part, that United will be in a position to challenge their rival’s supremacy next season.
It is understood that Mourinho will, once again, receive significant financial backing from the club’s executive vice-chairman, Ed Woodward, and the Glazers in the summer, while a deal to sign Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez is expected to go through before the end of the January transfer window.
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