He sees succeeding Roy Hodgson as the next best option to taking over at Old Trafford, and would relish working with John Stones, who he tried to sign for Chelsea, Ross Barkley, Dele Alli, Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane. Hodgson’s contract is up at the end of the European Championship finals this summer, but a last-eight finish may yet win him an extension. Mourinho has been offered the England job once before, following the departure of Steve McClaren, and has said it would be of interest to him at the right time. Asked in 2014 if he would ever manage England, Mourinho said: “Yes. Not now. Not seven years ago when I had the chance. I made the right decision, my wife helped me make the right decision. Not now. No way. Too young, too strong, too much appetite to train every day, to play every game, to play three times a week, too much appetite still.”