Mourinho cools interest in Malcom as he targets a ‘fox-in-the-box’ to bag more goals
UNITED have cooled their interest in Bordeaux winger Malcom and are now targeting a striker this month.
Manager Jose Mourinho identified 20-year-old Malcom as an option to enhance United’s attack in the January transfer window, having failed to sign Internazionale flanker Ivan Perisic in the summer. But M.E.N. Sport understands United are unconvinced they can clinch a deal for the Brazilian and Mourinho is now believed to covet a ‘fox-in-the-box’ style striker.
The M.E.N. previously reported Malcom was in discussions with two clubs but United were not one of them. Arsenal have earmarked Malcom, who is learning English, as a possible replacement for Alexis Sanchez, who has been offered to United. Mourinho is believed to be torn over whether to sign a winger or bring in a poacher centre-forward.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has struggled in his seven appearances since recovering from a seven-month lay-off with a knee injury and is out injured until next month. Marcus Rashford also toiled as the number nine in the first-half of United’s FA Cup win over Derby.
West Ham manager David Moyes is reportedly open to offloading former United striker Javier Hernandez this month and Mourinho spoke effusively about the Mexican last season.
“Man United sold players that I would never sell, bought players that I would never buy,” Mourinho said in March. “I would never sell Di Maria, Chicharito, Danny Welbeck. Never. No chance. In the way we play at Old
Trafford, in the way we dominate opponents, in the way we play in their box, I think Chicharito would have 20 goals easily, even coming from the bench for the last 10 or 20 minutes. He’d have 20 goals.”
When Mourinho was asked why United did not make an approach for Hernandez before he left Bayer Leverkusen in the summer, he replied: “Because he left the club a few years ago. I’m not sure that it was his decision or the manager’s [Moyes] decision.
“But he’s a good player, he’s a player that will always score goals, he is a player that I would always welcome in my squad.
“We moved in another direction in a younger player in Lukaku, and we have Rashford that can also be a striker, originally he’s a striker, so we didn’t feel that need.”
Romelu Lukaku is United’s top scorer this term with 16 goals, followed by midfielder Jesse Lingard on 11. Rashford and Anthony Martial – who began their United careers as strikers – both have nine.
Mourinho has shown interest in recruiting a central midfielder but the returns of Marouane Fellaini and Michael Carrick from injury have eased the need to reinforce that area this month.