England FA chief Brian Barwick is set to offer the national team job to Jose Mourinho.

The Mail on Sunday says Mourinho will be offered the job of England head coach this week on £6million a year - but the Portuguese manager was last night considering his options after a counter-bid from a major European club.

Barwick was on the verge of finalising a four-and a- half-year deal worth more than £27m last night, with the former Chelsea boss in Lisbon waiting to take a private jet to London.

His agent, Jorge Mendes, spoke with Barwick on Friday night about the details of the FA's offer and negotiations are believed to have gone well.

Mourinho is reported to have said: "I have decided I will go to England if they want me. I am going away on holiday now, but if everything goes well, I can be in England on January 1."

The appointment of the charismatic Portuguese coach would stagger the football world, but the FA know he will be popular with the media, players and supporters, who all believe that he is the right man to restore England's tarnished international reputation.

A source close to the England team said yesterday: "I spoke to Jose last night. Fingers crossed this happens. I know all the England players will be delighted."