Man Utd brush off claims of Mourinho talks

Manchester United have brushed aside claims they are already studying possible successors, including former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, to current manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

Mourinho said earlier this week he could return to the Premier League once his contract with Inter Milan expires in 2011.

Ferguson declared in the summer that he would only remain at Old Trafford for another two years, meaning he would finish in 2010, after 24 years at the helm.

Although the timing for Mourinho would be out by a year, the News of the World claimed Sunday that Old Trafford chiefs are already considering the Portuguese manager as a possible successor to Ferguson.

However United on Sunday rejected speculation that they have already opened talks that will lead to Ferguson's successor being appointed.

“As we have said many times before, there has been no discussion about who will eventually succeed Sir Alex,” said a United spokesman.

Ferguson's place in United's history books is already assured.

He has become the club's most successful manager, winning his second Champions League trophy in May with a penalty shoot-out victory over Chelsea, who had Avram Grant in charge.

Mourinho's failure to land Europe's biggest prize led to his exit from Stamford Bridge, although he did win the competition – and the UEFA Cup – during an impressive spell at Porto, beating United on the way.