'Jose Mourinho signs', United to confirm deal on Friday

The Portuguese manager, who is understood to have penned a three-year deal, will succeed Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford.

Sky Sports reported that Mourinho had agreed terms at a central London hotel, although the Manchester Evening News' Samuel Luckhurst insisted the deal was not quite over the line.

BBC Sport waded in later on Thursday evening, saying a deal was agreed although no contract was signed.

The announcement was reportedly delayed over a tangle between United and Chelsea over the 53-year-old’s name, with the latter club apparently demanding payment to sign over three separate trademarks.

Mourinho will be tasked with restoring United to the upper echelons of European football. They endured a difficult season that saw them crash out of the Champions League group stages and finish fifth in the Premier League – albeit one that culminated with an FA Cup win.

Mourinho has been without a job since his dismissal from a second spell at Chelsea in December.