Jose Mourinho odds-on for Manchester United exit

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho was given a vote of confidence by his agent on Friday but bookmakers are more pessimistic about the Portuguese manager’s future at Old Trafford.

Jorge Mendes released a statement insisting his client would not be leaving United after reports suggested the Old Trafford outfit were prepared to pay Tottenham £40m in compensation to appoint their manager Mauricio Pochettino next summer.

Coral reacted by quoting 4-6 that Mourinho has left United by the end of this season, and he is the 2-1 favourite with Betfair and Paddy Power to be the next manager to leave his post.

Pochettino is the 7-1 second favourite with Betfair and Paddy Power to replace Mourinho at United behind market leader Zinedine Zidane who is a 6-4 shot.

Coral have Antonio Conte as their second favourite at 6-1 sandwiched between Zidane and Pochettino.

United are eighth in the Premier League but bet365 don’t expect things to get much better and they go 11-10 that the Red Devils finish in sixth place. It’s 5-2 that they end up in seventh or lower, and a top-four finish is 7-1.

Arsenal were dealt a blow when it was revealed defender Rob Holding has been ruled out for up to nine months after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

Holding was injured during Wednesday’s 2-2 draw with Manchester United after making 16 appearances for the Gunners this season.

The injury is the latest defensive setback for Arsenal, who remain without centre-back Laurent Koscielny and left-back Nacho Monreal. They entertain Huddersfield on Saturday.

Liverpool also have injury concerns after they revealed that their defender Joe Gomez will miss at least six weeks after fracturing his leg during their 3-1 win at Burnley.

Dejan Lovren and Nathaniel Clyne are already missing for the unbeaten Reds who head to Bournemouth on Saturday.

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