John Stones, and the non-transfer of John Stones, sent Jose Mourinho into a blue rage at Chelsea.
This summer, Mourinho is expected to pursue the 21-year-old defender in his new role as Manchester United boss.
The Portuguese should be officially confirmed as United’s new manager in the coming days. If, as many have suspected, Mourinho has known of the anointment for a number of months, he should move quickly to tie up some of his key transfer targets.
. @dionfanning feels LvG's demise is a seismic change for @ManUtd https://t.co/AGGz7pAXbz
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) May 22, 2016
A slew of newspapers are in agreement on the two players topping Mourinho’s wishlist, which is reportedly in the hands of United chief executive Ed Woodward already. One would almost suspect super-agent Jorge Mendes has been briefing Fleet Street’s finest with a Powerpoint presentation.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is said to be the first player Mourinho will sign. The Swedish striker signed off a highly successful stint with Paris Saint Germain, at the weekend, with a brace in the French Cup final.
Ibrahimovic will arrive on a free transfer but, much like Bastian Schweinsteiger last year, command a wage in the region of £300,000 per week.
The other priority for Mourinho, once he is sworn in as United’s next overseer of flowing football and 97th minute winners, is one that should please United fans.
Mourinho wants Everton central defender John Stones and United are just the club to splash £40m on a youngster with talent.
Chelsea, under Mourinho, would not budge beyond £30m with their offer for Stones last summer and Everton pulled down the shutters.
Additional targets have also been identified by The Guardian. They include André Gomes, João Mário, Álvaro Morata, Mauro Icardi and Ezequiel Garay.
The newspaper report that United made an enquiry about getting Paul Pogba back to Manchester but were sent scampering by a £116m quotation from Juventus.
