Paper Round: Mourinho asked to wait a year for Manchester United job; Hazard staying at Chelsea

Ex-Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho was asked by Manchester United to wait a year until Louis Van Gaal's contract was up, according to the Sun. Mourinho said no.

Apparently United believed a lucrative 12 month stint in the Chinese Super League would soften the blow, with Mourinho joining the club as manager at the start of the 2017-2018 season. Mourinho, however, turned it down and now believes he's very close to the top job, as he wants to be back in elite football as this summer.

Paper Round's view: There are two reasons Ed Woodward would have asked Mourinho to do this: one, to make it look like less of an error on his part to bring Van Gaal to Old Trafford in the first place; and two, because Van Gaal no doubt has contract clauses which would make it enormously expensive to fire him in the event that he wins the FA Cup and secures a top four league finish, both of which look perfectly possible right now. Fans are not happy at all with the mediocrity of football on display during Van Gaal's stint as United manager, of course; which makes you wonder open-mouthed why they're all clamouring for the Portuguese manager's dour take on the Beautiful Game.

Chelsea's midfield ace Eden Hazard has reportedly told the club he wants to stay this summer, according to the Daily Mail. It comes after Hazard was the subject of interest from PSG and Real Madrid, after his poor season at the club and fall out with former manager Jose Mourinho. The report says that Hazard is '100 per cent prepared to stay' and that he has assured the club he wants to work with Antonio Conte next season.

Paper Round's view: Good on Hazard for sticking it out, as a lot do just cut and run when the going gets tough. It may have been good for him to leave Chelsea personally, but the club are much stronger having previous players buy in as it shows Conte has the sort of leadership that's required to get the club through this period of crisis.

Dortmund's speedy striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will turn down United interest in order to hold out for a move to Real Madrid, according to the Mirror. Aubameyang according to the report will stay at Dortmund for another season, as Aubameyang has his heart set on a move to Real Madrid. The 26-year-old has scored an incredible 40 goals in 46 appearances this season.

Paper Round's view: United don't have the pulling power they once did, and it shows in this failed bid for Aubameyang. They'll turn their attention to Lukaku now, but they'll have to make Champions League or there's strong doubts any move happens there either.

Reds prospect Jordan Rossiter is frustrated by the lack of game time at Anfield and is reportedly on the radar of other clubs, according to the Daily Mail. The report says Rangers, Udinese, Tottenham and Manchester City are interested in the 19 year old, as he is reportedly annoyed at the lack of first team football after graduating from the club's academy. Rossiter has had 3 appearances this season, with Rangers looking to beat out competition to his signature by signing him on a long term deal.

Paper Round's view: As much you attempt to sympathise with Rossiter, the question needs to be asked of young players everywhere - are you willing to move elsewhere to climb up the ladder? Clearly being at a club like Liverpool might be good for training development, but is it good for playing development as first team minutes are scarce? Rossiter should consider the Rangers offer, as the rough and tumble of Scottish football will create a hunger that hopefully matches his talent.