Manchester United's executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has reportedly asked Jose Mourinho to postpone taking over as the club's new manager until the start of the 2017-18 season.
Widespread reports had claimed that Mourinho would be appointed this summer, despite the fact that current boss Louis van Gaal has another 12 months left to run on his deal at Old Trafford.
However, The Sun now claims that Woodward has had second thoughts about sacking a manager that he hired in 2014 and would rather that Van Gaal saw out the remainder of his deal.
The report adds that Woodward hoped the out-of-work Mourinho would spend a season coaching in China, before then returning to England to replace Van Gaal.
Yet, it is believed that the ex-Chelsea manager informed the United official that he had no intention of agreeing to that proposal because he wants to be back in work at a major European club by the end of the month.
