Adnan Januzaj is not in Jose Mourinho’s immediate plans.
But that’s not to say that he won’t be interested in the winger in four years if Januzaj develops into one of the best players in the world.
Mourinho is willing to part with the 21-year-old but not on a permanent basis as he doesn’t want to have to return down the line with a record-breaking transfer fee.
The Daily Mail report that Sunderland enquired about a permanent deal for Januzaj, with David Moyes keen on reuniting with his former player, but that the Red Devils have turned that approach down.
Moyes sealed permanent deals for Paddy McNair and Donald Love on Tuesday and United will allow Januzaj to join his former teammates at the Stadium of Light, as long as he returns next season for further evaluation and so that Mourinho can make sure that he’s not on his way to superstardom.
United learned their lesson this summer when they splashed out a record €105 million on a player they allowed to walk away from the club for close to nothing just a few seasons ago.
With an admission of poor judgement as expensive as that, it’s easy to understand why the club are keen to avoid making the same mistake twice.
Although who knows? Paddy McNair could be on the verge of becoming Northern Ireland’s answer to Paolo Maldini and United will be forced to come crawling back in 2020 with their chequebooks blank and open, and a brutal hashtag at the ready.
