Role For Giggs Looking Likely Under Mourinho

Jose Mourinho is prepared to find a place for Ryan Giggs on his Manchester United coaching staff - but not in the role of assistant manager, according to Sky sources.

Mourinho will take his trusted deputy Rui Faria to Old Trafford as assistant manager, meaning an effective demotion for Giggs if he agrees to stay at the club.

However, Mourinho holds Giggs' achievements at United in high regard, and is keen to find a role for him to extend his 29-year association with the club.

Giggs, United's most decorated player, had previously worked under David Moyes as player-coach before taking charge of the final four games of the 2013-14 season in the role of interim manager when Moyes was sacked.

He was then named assistant manager when Louis van Gaal took charge the following summer. Giggs has been seen by some influential figures at the club as a future United manager, although this is the second time he has been overlooked for the top job.

United's executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward briefed Giggs on the latest developments at the club's Carrington training ground on Monday, before the confirmation of Van Gaal's sacking was made public.

It is expected Giggs will speak with Mourinho in person before making a decision on his future. However, that conversation will not take place before Mourinho's own contract with the club is signed.

Mourinho has worked with Faria since 2001, when the former was appointed manager of Uniao de Leiria, and hired Faria as fitness coach and assistant manager.

They have been inseparable since, with Faria following Mourinho to Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid, before returning to Chelsea for their second spell. The pair met at Mourinho's London home on Monday afternoon, spending around 90 minutes discussing their next move.

The future of highly-rated Under-21 team boss Warren Joyce is also uncertain. Blackburn Rovers approached United for permission to speak to Joyce last week.

Joyce is keen to make the step up to manage at a higher level, although he wishes to know where he fits in to Mourinho's plans before making a final decision. It is thought United will not stand in Joyce's way if he wishes to leave, but will defer the final decision to Mourinho.

Jorge Mendes, Mourinho's agent, is arriving in England on Tuesday for talks with Woodward at an undisclosed central London location.

While it is anticipated an agreement will be reached quickly due to Mourinho's strong desire to become United manager and the fact initial talks took place earlier in the year, one detail still to be concluded is the length of Mourinho's contract.