Former Albion loan striker James Wilson has a new manager to impress after Manchester United today confirmed the appointment of Jose Mourinho.

The former Chelsea manager has been handed a three-year contract at Old Trafford with “an option to stay until at least 2020”.

Wilson, 20, joined the Seagulls on loan from Manchester United in November, scoring five goals as Albion just missed out on automatic promotion before losing to Sheffield Wednesday in the play-offs.

The frontman is now back with the Red Devils where Mourinho says he is relishing the return to management.

New boss Mourinho said: “To become Manchester United manager is a special honour in the game.

“It is a club known and admired throughout the world. There is a mystique and a romance about it which no other club can match.”

Louis van Gaal's turbulent two-year reign was brought to an end on Monday as FA Cup glory was unable to mask poor Premier League performances in terms of style and substance.

United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward and Mourinho's agent Jorge Mendes began talks the following day, although it took until today for official confirmation as the terms of the contract were ironed out.