Sridhar Bhamidi
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is ready to commit his long-term future to the club but wants more backing in the transfer market. The Portuguese tactician who is coveted by Paris Saint-Germain is ready to extend his stay at Old Trafford provided the Red Devils give him more support. (Manchester Evening News)
Mourinho is understood to have intimated the club hierarchy that he wants the Red Devils to ‘step up’ and offer him reassurances in the transfer market. After winning the Europa League and EFL Cup in his first season at the club, Jose believes that he is on a strong footing.
It is widely reported in the media that PSG have contacted Jose’s agent Jorge Mendes to check on his availability after the United manager spoke glowingly about the Ligue 1 big spenders last month.
He even was quoted as saying to French television station Telefoot that PSG are the team everyone loves to watch these days, including his own son.
“The other day my son who lives in London went to Paris and not to Manchester to watch the match,” Mourinho said.
“At the moment in Paris there is something special. Magic, quality, youth, it’s fantastic.”
Mourinho may be a little exaggerated in his praise for PSG but it is true that the Parisians are the cynosure of all football fans in Europe after capturing Neymar and Kylian Mbappe in the summer.
Although Mourinho was quick to admit that he wants to stay at the club for a longer period, it could only be a tactic by the gaffer to push for an improved contract.
Jose is contracted at Old Trafford until 2019 with an option to extend for one more year and the club management is ready to offer him a long-term contract. However, the gaffer feels that the club needs to be more competitive in the transfer market.
That’s an interesting comment because Mourinho has been given full backing this summer, in landing his prime targets – Victor Lindelof, Nemanja Matic, and Romelu Lukaku. Even though his wish to sign a fourth player wasn’t fulfilled, it must be said that he got full ‘transfer market backing’.
I’m sure the club will not back away from giving him full support but they would want the results on the pitch to reflect the same. Can Mourinho answer the critics and make United title-challengers again? Does he deserve the new deal or is it too early?
