Mourinho looks set to sell Shaw and Mkhitaryan
JOSE MOURINHO says he will allow any unhappy player to leave Manchester United for the right price in next month’s transfer window, news that will spark speculation over the futures of Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Luke Shaw.
The pair are struggling to cement a regular place in Mourinho’s squads, let alone his starting XIs.
Twelve months ago, the United manager allowed Morgan Schneiderlin and Memphis Depay to leave after they expressed concern at their lack of first-team football and Mourinho will adopt a similar stance in this window.
“I think, for the right price,” said Mourinho, when asked if he would listen to offers in such circumstances.
“That’s my approach as a manager, in cases where the club advises me. Every player has a price. If a player is not happy, if a player brings with him the request with the number that we consider a good number for us, like it happened with Memphis and Morgan, I would never say no.”
Marouane Fellaini is out of contract in the summer and contract talks have hit an impasse, reportedly over the duration of the deal being offered.
However, Mourinho has repeatedly said he wants to retain the versatile Belgian, who can talk to foreign clubs in the new year and can leave for nothing next summer. Paris StGermain and Besiktas have been linked with him.
Mourinho admits he is unlikely to bring anyone in next month, despite defender Eric Bailly facing ankle surgery that will rule him out for up to three months.
“I’m not a big defender of the January market but there are players and situations that sometimes you have the chance to do and you shouldn’t lose that chance,” he said.
“I don’t like the January market just to buy. But if you can buy one you would buy in July, with the chance a few months before, then great.”
Bailly has been out since early November after injuring his ankle playing for the Ivory Coast, although central defence is not a position that worries Mourinho.
England pair Chris Smalling and Phil Jones are in good form, Marcos Rojo is back from longterm injury, and summer signing Victor Lindelof has improved after a shaky start.
Tomorrow at West Brom, Mourinho must decide whether Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has had just 73 minutes of football in five substitute appearances since returning from injury, will start.
Defeat in the Manchester derby put United 11 points behind leaders City, but Mourinho insisted his experience of returning Real Madrid to the top of the European game would stand him in good stead as he attempts the same with United.
“When I went to Real Madrid, they were in a difficult moment, no league title or cup, not even a Champions League quarter-final for many years,” he said.
“It was hard but it was good for my development as a manager, too. I signed a three-year contract here because it was the time myself and the board decided on.
“I knew it wasn’t going to be an easy job. We go to clubs with a huge history where people look to the history and not to the moment and expectations are high.
“The job is difficult but I’ve had that experience before at other clubs, so nothing new.” Manchester United v West Brom, Tomorrow, live, Sky Sports, 2.15