Benfica president says 'money is no issue' in hiring Jose Mourinho as Man United players 'back Ole Gunnar Solskjaer' for permanent role

Mourinho could return to Benfica, the club he left in December 2000

Benfica president Luis Filipe Vieira has said "money is no issue" for the Portuguese giants as they look to hire Jose Mourinho.

The former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Chelsea manager was briefly Benfica boss in the year 2000 but resigned in December when the club's new president, Manuel Vilarinho, refused to give him a contract extension.

The Eagles are, however, seven points off Sergio Conceicao's FC Porto at the top the league and while current boss Bruno Lage remains in place, president Vieira was non-commital on Lage's future with Mourinho now on the market.

"For now, Bruno Lage is the coach of Benfica," Vieira told Portuguese broadcaster SIC. "There will be news next week."

When asked about the possibility of bringing Mourinho back to Lisbon, Vieira said: "I am his friend. Who would not like to have Mourinho? [But] I have not talked to him.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has won his first five games in charge of Manchester United (Getty)

"If he says yes tomorrow, he'll be here at the drop of a hat. Money is no issue for Benfica."

Meanwhile, Manchester United's players want Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Mourinho's interim replacement at Old Trafford, to get the job on a full-time basis according to the Daily Mirror.

Solskjaer has unshackled United's attacking players, winning five games from five since stepping in on a curious loan agreement to guide the Manchester club to the end of the season.

Sources told the Mirror that the squad is keen to keep the smiling Norwegian, and that Ed Woodward has been impressed with the former striker's work since taking over.

Solskjaer himself has made little secret of his ambitions to take the role on a more permanent basis but Tottenham's Mauricio Pochettino remains the favourite.

Spurs host United this weekend with much of the pre-match focus likely to centre on the vacant Old Trafford dugout and the two men most likely to be populating it next season.