Report: Manchester United assures Mourinho that manager's job is his

Manchester United has apparently made efforts to reassure Jose Mourinho that the Old Trafford job is his, allaying concerns from the Portuguese's representatives that Laurent Blanc had been cited for the role.

Paris Saint-Germain's Blanc - who spent his career swansong with United - has been linked to a return as manager, but The Sun's Neil Custis understands Mourinho is set to become the highest-paid manager in history in Stretford.

His salary over a three-year contract will reportedly reach £60 million and discussions are now nearing their conclusion for him to succeed Louis van Gaal, who has struggled to curry favour with the club's fans through his widely-dubbed dull brand of football.

Ex-Chelsea boss Mourinho has stolen ahead of Blanc, as well as Tottenham Hotspur's Mauricio Pochettino and Van Gaal's number two Ryan Giggs, in the United boardroom's preferred candidates.

Considering his trophy-laden coaching career - he has eight league titles at four different teams, along with two Champions League titles - United is keen not to keep him waiting any longer. If Sky Sports' Andy Burton is to be believed, Mourinho was approached for the PSG helm earlier in April.

Despite Van Gaal's lack of popularity at United, the outfit does have an FA Cup final against Crystal Palace on May 21 to look forward to. Before then, it sees its Premier League campaign out against Leicester City, Norwich City, West Ham United, and Bournemouth.