Jose Mourinho SURE Manchester United will make him their manager in the summer

The Special One has told friends he believes that he is going to replace Louis van Gaal — with sources close to him claiming a deal is almost done

Jose Mourinho has told friends he believes he WILL be the next Manchester Unitedmanager.

Sources close to the former Chelsea boss Mourinho have claimed it is almost a ‘done deal’ that he will succeed Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford in the summer.

The 53-year-old Portuguese, axed by Chelsea in December after leading them to his third Premier League title last term, is now said to be very confident of locking horns across Manchester with old La Liga rival Pep Guardiola.

United’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has always been reluctant to sack Van Gaal and the Dutchman reacts with fury to any suggestion that his job is under threat.

But with the Red Devils now six points adrift of a Champions League place, a change of manager is on the cards.

Former Real Madrid boss Mourinho, who earned £12million a year at Chelsea, has stated that he wants to manage in the Premier League next season.

Speaking to GQ, he said: "To be fully happy I need everything, so I go back to football. I think it’s my natural habitat. I have worked since I can remember, and as a manager since 2000. For sure, I will be back soon.

"At this moment I don’t have a job, and I don’t know where football will take me, because in football you never know. But for sure — for sure, for sure — as a family, our home will still be England."

With Bayern Munich's ex-Barcelona boss Guardiola having agreed to succeed Manuel Pellegrini at Manchester City, United is the only possible major vacancy.