Search icon

Football

22nd May 2016

Michael Carrick’s replacement will be the first signing of the Jose Mourinho era at Manchester United

Kevin McGillicuddy

Things are about to change at Old Trafford, and not just at the top.

Various reports suggest the club are set to jettison Louis van Gaal in the coming 48 hours, and appoint Jose Mourinho as his successor.

The Portuguese has his own ideas about playing, and his own style, but one key fact remains.

The Manchester United squad is poorly served by its current incumbents, and a major revamp will be required under whoever is in charge come August.

LEICESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 28:  Michael Carrick of Manchester United applauds supporters after the Barclays Premier League match between Leicester City and Manchester United at The King Power Stadium on November 28, 2015 in Leicester, England.  (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Michael Carrick is set to depart the club this summer, and with the backwards/sideways passing style infuriating fans, reports today suggest a £25million Poland midfielder may be the first man signed under the new regime.

According to The Sun, Sevilla’s Europa league hero Grzegorz Krychowiak is being lined up as a replacement for the former England international in order to become the defensive cornerstone of Mourinho’s midfield.

The 26-year-old has also been linked with Arsenal, but now that Granit Xhaka is set to move to London, it has cleared the way for Manchester United to swoop.

BASEL, SWITZERLAND - MAY 18: James Milner of Liverpool and Grzegorz Krychowiak of Sevilla compete for the ball during the UEFA Europa League Final match between Liverpool and Sevilla at St. Jakob-Park on May 18, 2016 in Basel, Switzerland.  (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Krychowiak’s ability as a defensive midfielder has been admired by many clubs across Europe, and it is understood that Juventus were also interested in his services.

However, despite Sevilla’s recent European success, he is keen to experience a new challenge, and may be the first signing of the Jose Mourinho era this summer.

He impressed during last week’s Europa league success against Liverpool, and it is estimated that a fee of just over £25million will secure a deal with the La Liga side.

Click snap

The FootballJOE quiz: Were you paying attention? – episode 10