UNITED Rose worth plucking for attacking threat

REGARDLESS of whether Daniel Levy is a tougher negotiator than Samuel L Jackson, Jose Mourinho is intent on strengthening United’s left-hand side.

Danny Rose was identified last month as another Premier League specialist to convert United from also-rans into title challengers, only the club had intended on monitoring Rose’s progress over the forthcoming season before considering a bid next year. That changed with the left-back’s midweek interview with a tabloid. Rose has stopped just short of burning bridges with Tottenham but he has lit the match while fluttering eyelashes in United’s direction. “I hear Mourinho may want one or two more players,” Rose teased and he heard right. Rose and Ivan Perisic are two options United are considering to strengthen their left flank.

The selections of right-footers Matteo Darmian and Jesse Lingard in the Super Cup were veiled messages to Ed Woodward to clinch a fourth signing.

Mourinho could have used the leftfooted Daley Blind or Anthony Martial, but Blind endured a poor pre-season and last that Mourinho reminded Martial he had to complement class with consistency.

Amid the frenzied speculation surrounding the Paris Saint-Germain right-back Serge Aurier, it is worth remembering what Mourinho said about United’s lopsided backline after he moved Henrikh Mkhitaryan to leftback against Liverpool in January.

“When you have Antonio Valencia playing as a right winger you cannot defend with two players, you need that third player to give some cover inside and to keep some balances, and he [Darmian] did that well,” Mourinho said.

Mourinho has effectively disregarded Darmian as a right-back and the Italian’s attacking input is borderline non-existent. He is one of the few full-backs at an elite Premier League club who is picked to just defend and that is partly why Mourinho is attracted to Rose.

Valencia would benefit from the arrival of Rose. United were concerned about how fatigued the Ecuadorian was towards the end of last season and, at 32, his workload will have to be eased via an equally energetic winger on the opposite side.

There’s also the bonus of a new supply line to Romelu Lukaku.

Eighteen of the Belgian striker’s 85 Premier League goals have come off his head and Rose would arrive at United expected to attack more than defend.

But first they need to negotiate.