Rohan Sengupta
Jose Mourinho is eyeing a massive summer overhaul at Manchester United and is ready to let seven players leave the club, according to the Independent.
The report claims that the United manager wants four key players at the club before next season commences and had already discussed these plans with executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward prior to Tuesday’s Champions League last-16 elimination to Sevilla. However, the 2-1 defeat to Sevilla further justified his thoughts about strengthening the side in the summer.
It is clear there is a big gulf in quality between Manchester City and United with the former running away with the Premier League title and competing in the Champions League, having already won the League Cup last month.
Mourinho is convinced that he needs a fresh set of top-quality players to compete with Pep Guardiola’s City. And as per the Independent, Woodward has accepted the manager’s request.
While we boast of one of the meanest defences in the Premier League, Mourinho is keen to further strengthen the back-line and wants to bring in a reliable defender to partner Eric Bailly.
The report claims that Barcelona’s Samuel Umtiti and Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld are the main targets, while there also remains a desperate need to sign a controlling midfielder.
United star midfielder Paul Pogba, who turned 25 on Thursday, has performed way below his standards since last month but as far as reports are concerned, there is no friction between the Frenchman and the manager.
However, the Independent says Pogba’s struggles at United could open the doors for a potential swap deal involving Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti, especially since the duo shares the same agent, Mino Raiola.
But that remains a different story as the Red Devils still value Pogba as one of their main assets and are waiting to see the midfielder turn things around quickly.
There remains an air of uncertainty over the future of our star goalkeeper David De Gea. While United are relaxed about offering a new deal to the Spaniard, the goalkeeper’s current contract runs out in the summer of 2019, although with an option to extend it by a year.
The Independent claim Real Madrid remain highly interested in De Gea and sources close to both the clubs feel there could be a chance that the La Liga champions will raise the possibility of a deal involving German midfielder Toni Kroos.
