Manchester Evening News

CUT-PRICE CLEM ON JOSE’S RADAR

- By JAMES ROBSON

JOSE Mourinho has identified Clement Lenglet as a cut-price alternativ­e to Toby Alderweire­ld.

The United manager is considerin­g a £31m move for the Sevilla centre-back as part of his summer overhaul at Old Trafford.

Mourinho knows he needs to bring in a host of signings if he is to cut the gap to champions City – and a £50m-plus deal for Alderweire­ld would eat heavily into his budget.

Lenglet has a buy-out clause of around £31m and is also being tracked by Barcelona.

Mourinho was impressed with the 22-year-old Frenchman during United’s Champions League last 16 tie with Sevilla and believes he would be able to handle the rigours of the Premier League. SERGIO Aguero insists he will not be tempted by a move to Real Madrid – or a return to Atletico.

The City striker is adamant he will see out his contract at the Etihad and claims he has a good relationsh­ip with Pep Guardiola.

Aguero’s future has been the subject of scrutiny ever since Guardiola’s arrival two years ago.

The signing of Gabriel Jesus and City’s pursuit of Alexis Sanchez and Kylian Mbappe placed further doubt over the Argentine internatio­nal’s position.

But Aguero underlined his enduring importance to City, playing a pivotal role in their title triumph last season, which saw him become the club’s all-time leading scorer. That has stopped talk of an exit, with both Madrid clubs linked with a move.

And Aguero insists he has no desire to leave before his contract expires in 2020.

“The club is happy, and I am happy in the club,” he told El Chiringuit­o de Jugones. “I hope to stay until the end of my contract. I think every year (there are rumours).

“Maybe a few more rumours this year with Atletico.

“With Madrid as well – since I left Atletico, it sounds like Madrid, Madrid, Madrid.

“Well, I’m a City player. What I have to do right now is to be focused on the World Cup, and after that, focused on City.”

CITY SPECIAL/ PAGES 41-43

 ??  ?? UNITED SPECIAL/ PAGES 45-47 Clement Lenglet challenges United’s Romelu Lukaku in the Champions League earlier this season
UNITED SPECIAL/ PAGES 45-47 Clement Lenglet challenges United’s Romelu Lukaku in the Champions League earlier this season

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