Jose heading for showdown
tomorrow’s Premier League opener against Leicester at Old Trafford.
The Foxes have made it clear they will not sell Harry Maguire, who is Mourinho’s top target, at any price. Privately, the England defender is still hoping a deal can be struck but will not rock the boat by asking for a move.
United have dropped their interest in Jerome Boateng because they will not match Bayern Munich’s £45m price for a player who is 30 next month and has had a lot of injury problems.
A £35m move for Barcelona’s Yerry Mina has stalled, believed to be over the excessive agents’ fees involved and concerns the Colombian will not improve the squad.
Despite interest in £50m-valued Tottenham centre-back Toby Alderweireld, United have not tabled a bid for the Belgian, who is 30 next March. United officials are adamant they will not be held to ransom and Woodward and his directors do not see the point of panic-buying.
They will also point out Mourinho bought a centre-half in each of the past two summers – Eric Bailly for £30m in 2016 and Victor Lindelof for £31m last year – and both have potential to develop.
On top of that, United have long-serving duo Chris Smalling and Phil Jones plus Marcos Rojo and three of those – Lindelof, Jones and Rojo – were good enough to play in the World Cup for their countries.
United have also made it clear they will not sell Paul Pogba or Anthony Martial but it is the lack of any more incoming players that will annoy Mourinho, who has talked in pre-season of “the list” of targets he gave to Woodward.
More than £70m has been spent on midfielder Fred, right-back Diogo Dalot and keeper Lee Grant but he wants two more players – a winger and a centre-back.