José Mourinho has signed a contract to take over as Manchester United’s manager, with the club expected to make a formal announcement on Friday.

The Portuguese and his agent, Jorge Mendes, have been in talks with Ed Woodward, United's executive vice-chairman, throughout the week and the 53-year-old finally put pen to paper on Thursday.

The length of the contract is believed to be three years and Mourinho travelled to Manchester on Thursday to take official photographs for the announcement.

Manchester United sacked Louis van Gaal on Monday after two largely unsuccessful years at Old Trafford, giving Mourinho the chance to take over at the club that had been his first choice since he left Chelsea in December last year.

Mourinho has already discussed transfer targets with the Old Trafford hierarchy with André Gomes, John Stones, Álvaro Morata, Mauro Icardi high on the manager’s wish list. Mourinho will have a minimum of £150 million to spend on new players with Zlatan Ibrahimovic a potential signing on a free transfer.

United have already held initial talks with the 34-year-old Sweden striker but both parties want to have a bit more time before they make a decision.

Zlatan said on Thursday that he had “concrete offers from clubs in England as well as Italy and from sides outside Europe” and talked of his admiration for Mourinho. “I had a fantastic time with him at Inter and we said when I left that we might work together again,” he said.

Asked whether he had spoken to Mourinho in the past week, Ibrahimovic answered: “I have spoken to Mourinho every day since I left Inter. We talk a lot.He is the man to bring Manchester United back to the top. If you want action, you get Mourinho. He is a winner.”

(Guardian service)