Frank Lampard: 'Jose Mourinho could handle Manchester United challenge'

By Pascal Lemesre, Football League Editor | 11 February 2016

Frank Lampard believes that his former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho would be a hit at Manchester United should he succeed Louis van Gaal in charge at Old Trafford.

Frank Lampard has claimed that his former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho would be a hit at Manchester United should he succeed Louis van Gaal in charge at Old Trafford.

Reports suggest that Mourinho has already held negotiations with United and the rumour mill is already speculating which players he may wish to buy and sell in the summer.

Although Van Gaal has expressed his anger at questions over his future, Lampard suggested that the Dutchman could leave Old Trafford and said that he expects his former boss to land at a "big club" soon.

"There's a bit of a merry-go-round of managers at the minute and I think he'll probably sit tight for a while and then will end up at a big club somewhere, because he's a great manager," Lampard told ITV's This Morning.

Asked whether that big club might be United, Lampard added: "I think it's a possibility.

"If Louis van Gaal goes on, which I think he's said he's going to leave at the end of the season at the latest, I think Mourinho's the type of manager that will certainly come into their thinking.

"He could certainly handle a club like that, that's what he's about."

United are fifth in the Premier League, six points behind the top four, and already out of the Champions League.