Joseplan is Ozil in, Mickiout
JOSE MOURINHO is set to offload Henrikh Mkhitaryan next summer – to clear the way to sign Mesut Ozil.
The Manchester United boss is targeting the Arsenal star, whose contract ends in 2018. But the Portuguese knows he’ll have to trim his squad before he can bring in a player on a mega deal.
Mourinho has accused Mkhitaryan of disappearing in games and admitted he no longer has space for him even on the bench. That could be the final straw for the Armenian, nicknamed Micki, who cost £30million.
Mkhitaryan, 28, has failed to make an impact at Old Trafford but the Reds also have Juan Mata which could make it hard for Mourinho to justify bringing in another No.10 midfielder.
Arsenal have already offered Ozil £275,000-a-week and have not given up on persuading him to stay.
The 29-year-old has been in excellent form lately and Mourinho worked with him at Real Madrid when he described him as the best No.10 in the world.
Barcelona are also keen on Ozil who now has options if he leaves Arsenal but there is a growing belief United could be his destination.
Meanwhile, Mourinho has been asked by the FA to provide his observations on comments he made ahead of last weekend’s derby against Manchester City, who won 2-1 at Old Trafford.
The United boss said it only takes a “little bit of wind” to knock City’s players over and accused them of tactical fouls to stop opposing teams’ counter-attacks.