UNITED Jose to ensure Eric has United’s back
THE trend of Jose Mourinho’s first summer transfer windows with United was targeting forwards to maximise Paul Pogba’s qualities.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic was a Mino Raiola stablemate, Antoine Griezmann his international team-mate, Alvaro Morata a former club colleague, and Romelu Lukaku a friend since Pogba was warming United’s bench aged 18.
Even the defensive-minded Nemanja Matic was bought with attacking intent and the Serbian made the reservations about Mourinho’s 4-2-3-1 formation moot in the opening month of the campaign alongside Pogba.
The axis reunited ruthlessly on Pogba’s comeback against Newcastle in November, plundering four more goals two months on from the auspicious August of West Ham and Swansea.
Pogba’s clout and focus have plummeted in the wake of Alexis Sanchez’s arrival and he has started four of his last seven on the bench behind Scott McTominay and Marouane Fellaini.
MUTV producers owe Pogba one after he assisted Kylian Mbappe and struck a masterful free-kick in their live coverage of France’s win in Russia. However much Mourinho marvels at McTominay – he cannot do what Pogba did in Saint Petersburg.
The indulgence has ended, though, and Mourinho has insisted there will be no attacking additions in the summer. He has improved Romelu Lukaku, Jesse Lingard, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford, a quartet aged 25 and under and capable of kicking on again next season. That applies to Pogba as he attempts to regain his totemic status.
Mourinho’s tendency to revert to the 4-2-3-1 system amid howls of disapproval from supporters is believed to be down to his misgivings about the United defence.
Mourinho’s rationale is he often needs two holding midfielders to shield a defence whose standout performer this term is the auxiliary full-back Ashley Young.
United’s flattering goals against column – second behind only City in the Premier League – is also masked by David de Gea’s belief-defying goalkeeping.
United are not entertaining the prospect of selling Pogba despite the tension between him and Mourinho and their summer emphasis on the defence is in the Frenchman’s interests. Napoli’s Jorginho and Shakhtar Donetsk enforcer Fred are deeplying midfielders under consideration who Mourinho feels could provide the pivot between defence and attack.
It is in defence where a drastic overhaul is expected and it is a reflection of Eric Bailly’s brilliance that his untouchable status extends to the transfer window. United are actively considering replacements for Luke Shaw, are in the market for a rightback to replace Antonio Valencia and are prepared to bid for Toby Alderweireld should Tottenham decide to sell before his £25m release clause is triggered in 2019.
Just like last year, United are mulling over a centre-half to complement Bailly.
A cult hero and an untouchable, Bailly is a bona fide bargain at £30m who possesses Nemanja Vidic’s steel and Rio Ferdinand’s silk.
Mourinho will have to decide on which specific direction Bailly follows next, having unsuccessfully attempted to partner him with the ball-playing Victor Lindelof.
Through a combination of Bailly’s early European suspension and injuries, he has started just once with Lindelof and that was in a back three at CSKA Moscow. Marcos Rojo recently inked a new contract and Chris Smalling and Phil Jones’s deals expire next year. Neither they, nor Lindelof, appear to have the required pedigree to become one half of a championshipwinning axis – but Bailly does.
United have scouted Juventus leftback Alex Sandro, Tottenham’s Danny Rose and Celtic youngster Tierney with a view to replacing Shaw.
Sandro, 27, is believed to be Mourinho’s preferred option and is contracted to Juve until 2020.
Valencia’s heir is not as obvious but Mourinho seems to be reluctant to settle with Timothy Fosu-Mensah as his deputy.
Come August, Bailly could have a new centre-half and full-back either side of him, with a new midfield guardian in front of him. He will hope De Gea still has his back.
The Pogba trend is about to end. Samuel Luckhurst