Imagining Mourinho's starting XI at Manchester United

Jose Mourinho is in. Let the transfer speculation begin.

The Portuguese bench boss was finally unveiled Friday by Manchester United, with the club's supporters already looking eagerly ahead to next season, speculating about how the decorated gaffer might transform the team from the drab mess of this past season into a legitimate title contender.

Here, in his trusted 4-2-3-1 formation, we look at how United could line up next season under Mourinho.

Goalkeeper: David De Gea

The biggest no-brainer on the list. After barely holding on to him last summer, doing so thanks to the technological ineptitude of Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, United watched as the Spanish shot-stopper turned in a third consecutive stellar campaign. The club's reigning three-time player of the year is arguably the very best goalkeeper in the Premier League, and for a manager like Mourinho who values defensive solidity - even if his reputation as a defensive-minded boss isn't entirely accurate - being able to rely on De Gea as the rock between the sticks is a nice way to begin writing out your team sheet with a new club.

Right-back: Matteo Darmian

The Italian endured an injury-riddled, up-and-down season during his first year at Old Trafford, but showed signs during the early stages of the campaign that he can develop into a solid, if unspectacular, contributor. In truth, it wouldn't be unlike the full-backs Mourinho valued heavily during his time at both Chelsea (first stint) and Real Madrid, when Paulo Ferreira and Alvaro Arbeloa were regulars for the Portuguese boss.

Centre-back: Chris Smalling

Smalling took significant strides forward this season, developing into the club's best defender by some margin - even if some of that can be attributed to Louis van Gaal's cautious system making life easier on the central defenders in the side. Coming in and ridding yourself of that presence from the starting XI would seem like a counterintuitive move.

Centre-back: John Stones

Whether John Stones is actually good is a point of debate; the 21-year-old went from being a £40-million commodity on the transfer market last summer to a mistake-ridden disaster at Everton during the season. His value likely won't (read: shouldn't) hit the heights of 12 months ago, but it's no secret Mourinho wanted the young central defender at Stamford Bridge. Daley Blind is not the long-term answer alongside Smalling, and signing Stones would also give Mourinho the added satisfaction of keeping him away from reported admirer, and now city rival, Pep Guardiola, who is said to be keen on bringing Stones to Manchester City. If that's not a win-win ...

Left-back: Luke Shaw

It's a shame that Luke Shaw suffered that horrific broken leg at the hands of Hector Moreno, as the young Englishman looked set to take the next step in his development and grow into one of the Premier League's most exciting full-backs. Having now returned to training and setting his sights on next season, the former Southampton star has all the tools necessary to develop into Mourinho's first-choice left-back - and doesn't exactly have many competitors for the role, in truth.

Central midfield: Morgan Schneiderlin

If there's one thing Mourinho has always loved, it's a dominant defensive midfielder who can cover ground, win the ball and allow his teammates to focus more on their attacking duties while he mops up behind them. Claude Makelele was the ultimate example, with Michael Essien, Sami Khedira, and Nemanja Matic playing similar, though not identical, roles. In Morgan Schneiderlin, Mourinho could have a mobile one-man wall that would alleviate the pressure on whoever sets up shop next to him in the defensive midfield pairing. Especially if, as is looking increasingly likely, that partner is our next man on the list ...

Central midfield: Wayne Rooney

Wayne Rooney's days as a forward are over. The United captain, whose shift to a midfield role began under Louis van Gaal's watch late in the season, looks destined to continue heading into Euro 2016, and could very well extend into the 2016-17 campaign under Mourinho. Not that he's one to avoid confrontation with marquee players, but even Mourinho, despite his enormous ego, would likely find it difficult to come in and immediately drop the hard-working skipper. A great midfielder he is not, but Rooney's lack of positional sense in the centre of the pitch could be offset by the aforementioned Schneiderlin, a classic defensive midfielder who will allow Rooney to play a more loosely defined, free role beside him. Mourinho made it work with the defensively inept Cesc Fabregas playing one of his two deep midfield spots at Stamford Bridge. There's no reason he can't do it again.

Left wing: Memphis Depay

Memphis Depay's first season at Manchester United was, in no uncertain terms, a nightmare. The Dutch attacker, signed from PSV for a hefty fee thought to be £25 million, languished on the bench for much of the year; the 22-year-old started just 16 Premier League matches, scoring only twice, and yet, his raw talent is undeniable. Should he decide to slot Memphis on the left wing, the Eredivisie product could fill a role similar to that of Eden Hazard at Chelsea, who was given more freedom to attack and sit higher up the pitch in an effort to pin the opposing full-back deep in his own half.

Attacking midfielder: Sadio Mane

Juan Mata seems like a lovely bloke, but it's no secret that Mourinho doesn't value the Spaniard's talents, having already discarded him once at Chelsea. Mata's vision and ability to pick a pass are undeniable, but Mourinho has always favoured more dynamic, athletic players in the role, and the club's interest in Sadio Mane has long been established. The Senegalese speedster is thought of naturally as a winger but, as he proved with Southampton, can be devastating when given a free role to drift into the middle and find pockets of space to unlock the opposing backline. Pairing him with Memphis and Anthony Martial would be a treat for United supporters, and a terrifying prospect for everyone else.

Right wing: Anthony Martial

Waltzing into the Premier League as a teenager, Anthony Martial scored 17 goals in all competitions and often carried an otherwise unimaginative and blunt United attack entirely on his young shoulders. Where he plays remains to be seen, but there should be no doubt about his status in Mourinho's side.

Striker: Zlatan Ibrahimovic

What a reunion this would be.

Ibrahimovic, who has made his admiration for Mourinho clear after the pair worked together at Inter, claims to know the next step in his career. Multiple reports suggest he's been offered an enormous contract by the Red Devils, with others claiming he was simply waiting for the Special One to be hired before finalising the move to Old Trafford.

Aside from the fact that this would be a dream scenario from a sheer entertainment perspective, there simply appears to be too much smoke not to have fire.