Zinedine Zidane has told friends that he expects to be offered the Manchester United job if Jose Mourinho is sacked.

Mourinho is facing the biggest test of his time in charge at United after a turbulent summer that has left him at odds with Old Trafford chief Ed Woodward and record signing Paul Pogba.

The 55-year-old now faces a crucial game at home to Tottenham on Monday night as he tries to prevent the current problems at United escalating into a full-blown crisis.

Zinedine Zidane has told friends he expects a job offer from Manchester United if it comes up

Should Jose Mourinho be fired as boss this season, Zidane is interested in taking on the role

United have publicly backed Mourinho and played down speculation in France that Zidane could replace him.

'Why would we discuss him when there is no job available?' said a senior source earlier this week.

However, it's understood that the Old Trafford hierarchy recognise the need for a contingency plan if Mourinho's position becomes untenable.

Zidane believes he is the leading candidate to take over and has told associates that he would be very interested in managing United.

Having won three straight Champions League, Zidane believes he is the leading candidate

The 46-year-old is available after leaving Real Madrid in May, just five days after winning a hat-trick of Champions League titles.

He had been linked with the France job but his country's World Cup triumph in Russia this summer ensured that Didier Deschamps will remain in charge for the foreseeable future.

Zidane, whose strong connection to Marseille would also rule out coaching arch-rivals Paris Saint-Germain, is ready to work abroad again and has made the Premier League his first choice.

The decorated World Cup and Champions League winner is the kind of stellar name United would be looking for if Mourinho is axed.

He would also be the ideal figure to convince Pogba and Anthony Martial that their futures lie at Old Trafford after a summer in which the two Frenchmen both expressed a desire to leave.

The French boss would be the ideal figure to convince Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial to stay

Mourinho's fate is by no means sealed, however, and there is still more than enough time to turn things around.

A convincing win over a Spurs side coached by Mauricio Pochettino — another manager who has been linked with the United job — on Monday would help ease the pressure building around him.

Defeat, on the other hand, would only add to the growing sense of turmoil as Mourinho's strained relationship with Woodward becomes more apparent by the day.

Sky pundit Gary Neville's outspoken attack on Woodward has focused attention on the club's executive vice-chairman, and news that fans have paid to fly a protest banner calling for his head when United play at Burnley in nine days' time will cause further alarm in the boardroom.

Mourinho's uneasy relationship with Pogba, and several other players including Martial, is also a concern as United try to challenge Manchester City and the emerging threat of Liverpool.

Mourinho has had a tough summer with Ed Woodward and players and needs a win on Monday

After a summer in which he has complained about the club's tour of the US and a lack of new signings, the limp defeat at Brighton on Sunday has suddenly left him looking vulnerable.

It is understood that Mourinho has no intention whatsoever of walking away from the job, putting the ball firmly in United's court.

Woodward would be reluctant to make a third managerial change in less than four-and-a-half years, but that will become inevitable if the situation continues to deteriorate.