Jose Mourinho
Jose Mourinho looks like being the next Manchester United managerReuters

Jose Mourinho is all set to take over from Louis Van Gaal as the new Manchester United manager.

Van Gaal's job has been at stake for a while now with Manchester United's form dipping alarmingly, and with Mourinho suddenly becoming available after being sacked by Chelsea, the chances of the Dutchman losing his job has only increased.

Reports a couple of days back suggested the Manchester United hierarchy had begun tentative talks with Mourinho over a possible move, and now, according to The Sun, those talks have turned into an agreement with the Portuguese.

The only question that remains is if Van Gaal will be sacked ASAP or if Manchester United will wait until the Boxing Day clash against Stoke City to get over. The report says the final decision remains with the owners – the Glazers – but a deal has been agreed in principle with Mourinho.

Meanwhile, former Liverpool striker Stan Collymore is also of the belief that Van Gaal is likely to be replaced by Mourinho soon.

"If I were Ed Woodward [the executive vice-chairman of the club, and the man who makes most of the big decisions] today I'd be so tempted to pick up the phone and ask Jose Mourinho to come and manage Manchester United," Collymore was quoted as saying by The Metro.

"Jose wants it. He's always wanted it if the truth be told, despite his Mafia omertaesque refusal to admit it, so that he could assuage his disappointment by becoming the happy one back at Chelsea.

"United fans also increasingly want it.

"Having dined for 26 years on fillet steak with thrice cooked chips [when Sir Alex Ferguson was the manager], the last couple of years must have been like eating at the work canteen in comparison.

"And now I reckon Ed Woodward and the Glazers want it too."