Bharath Rammr
Super agent Jorge Mendes is set to play a major role in the transfer activity at Manchester United for the next few years. Mendes has been hugely influential in getting United world record transfer fees in the form of the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo. Even though he has had numerous such dealings with the club in the past, the arrival of Jose Mourinho is expected to scale things up further. Mendes not only takes care of players, but he is also the agent for Mourinho. In the past, this relationship has been influential in getting Mourinho some of the players he wants.
As Victor Lindelof moves closer towards a United deal, it is not a surprise that Mendes is involved in the background. However, the 22-year-old defender is not the only transfer about to be brokered by the Portuguese super-agent. He also takes care of Southampton defender Jose Fonte, who, according to BBC, has recently handed a transfer request with the less than 18 months left on his contract. He was a target for United in the summer only for Southampton to reject the advances of the Red Devils.
After having watched Fonte go without signing a contract extension, it is becoming increasingly likely that the south coast club would rather cash in on the player now rather than risk losing him for peanuts. He is expected to cost in the region of £7 million, which would be in addition to the £38 million about to be splashed on Lindelof. Thus, United are expected to spend close to £50 million just on defenders in this January, but it may not be the case after all.
Latest reports from Daily Star revealed that besides Lindelof and Fonte, Mendes is also in talks with Manchester United over a move for Real Madrid attacker James Rodriguez. The Colombian superstar has been starved of first-team opportunities under Zinedine Zidane, and he is keen on a move in order to avoid slipping out of the radar. Madrid are unlikely to let Rodriguez leave on a cheap after having paid in excess of £75 million to sign him from Monaco in the summer of 2014. His first season at the Santiago Bernabeu was a reasonable success after scoring 17 goals in 46 appearances.
In the last two seasons, however, he has struggled for any real cohesion on the pitch and this has resulted in the player returning with just 12 goals in 50 appearances. Most of these appearances were as a late substitute, thus limiting the probability of making an impact.
Chelsea were thought to be the favourites to sign the attacker, but it is now clear that Manchester United have moved ahead in the race. If Rodriguez does arrive for in excess of £60 million, United could be looking at more than £100 million in transfer fees just in January.
