Manchester United Plays Game of Thrones with Mourinho and Van Gaal

As ever, the future of Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal appears to be up in the air, this time with reports that Jose Mourinho, a man long rumoured to be a favoured correction to the last few years of meandering managerial selections at United, has been given a verbal guarantee.

The only problem is it’s entirely contingent on whether United, in fact, decides to actually sack Van Gaal. From Andy Burton and Sky Sports News:

“Jose Mourinho has been told the Manchester United job is his this summer if the club’s owners decide to sack Louis van Gaal, according to Sky sources. Mourinho has confirmed Sky Sports News HQ’s story from May 13 that he has no agreement in place yet with any club, insisting he is currently focused on “enjoying his life”. When asked to confirm whether or not there was an agreement in place with Manchester United, Mourinho stated “with nobody”.

This is, of course, slightly odd, because one presumes the same people with the power to decide Van Gaal’s fate are also the ones telling Mourinho to “wait and see what happens.”

Which raises the question: what is the decision contingent on? The performance in tonight’s mostly dead rubber match between United and AFC Bournemouth? The FA Cup final result against Crystal Palace? Ed Woodward’s mood?

We’ll soon find out. It at least saves the bookies (and reporters) from speculating on LvG’s replacement should he go.