Jose Mourinho wants new players at Old Trafford and he wants them yesterday.
The Manchester United manager, even by his own standards, seems particularly irritable on the club’s pre-season tour of the United States. And it’s not all entirely his fault. Jose wants the club to get their act together and sign some of his targets.
There are just two weeks left before the transfer window closes and the Premier League season begins.
United have already signed Brazilian midfielder Fred, Diogo Dalot, a young full-back, and Lee Grant, a backup goalkeeper. Mourinho reportedly still wants to sign a new striker, a winger, a full-back, a central defender and a midfielder. Good luck with that, Jose.
Reports on Wednesday claimed that United have at least made progress of sorts in their pursuit of a new centre-half. They are understood to have bid £65m for Harry Maguire, the Leicester City and England defender.
#mufc have made an approach to #lcfc for Harry Maguire. It’s thought United are initially prepared to pay £65m. Leicester have responded by categorically saying he isn’t for sale.
— Rob Dorsett (@RobDorsettSky) July 26, 2018
Leicester are said to have originally rejected the bid, a colossal fee for a player who was relegated with Hull City the season before last. However, according to The Mirror, they are preparing to potentially lose Maguire.
The Foxes have reportedly identified Middlesbrough’s Ben Gibson as a replacement for Maguire, who they signed for an initial fee of just £12m last summer. It appears Mourinho might get a new player after all.
The move will be easier to push through if Leicester have a direct replacement lined-up.
Whether it’s the right transfer for United remains to be seen. It’s a lot of money for a player largely untested at the top level of club football. But Maguire is talented and it’s not his fault transfer fees have become so inflated.
Toby Alderweireld was reportedly United’s main defensive transfer target this summer, but dealing with Tottenham has proved problematic.
Mourinho has become so desperate for reinforcements, he reportedly considered signing Gary Cahill from Chelsea.
