Jose Mourinho will not wait for Manchester United if they decide to postpone bringing him in to replace manager Louis van Gaal beyond this summer.
Despite a difficult season clouded by speculation, Old Trafford staff believe Van Gaal will now stay on for the final year of his contract.
That would mean Mourinho having to hold off taking the United hot seat until 2017-18, a wait he is not prepared to put up with.
Van Gaal could still depart if United lose the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace and fail to finish in the Barclays Premier League top four, but staff at the club expect him to stick around.
Another issue for Ed Woodward and the United board to consider is the future of assistant manager Ryan Giggs.