Is Mina on his way to Reds from Barcelona?
UNITED fans might have been sent a transfer hint following Yerry Mina’s recent social media activity.
The Barcelona defender has been linked with a move away from the Nou Camp this summer and recent reports suggest a move to Old Trafford could be on the cards.
Mina impressed supporters with his performances for Colombia at the World Cup and the centre-back even grabbed three goals as his side reached the knockout stages.
Recent reports suggest United view the 23-year-old as a cheaper alternative to Harry Maguire in the summer transfer market, with Spanish outlet Sport reporting his future could be decided ‘as early as this week’.
And now the Colombia international has put supporters on red alert after he followed United’s official club account as well as Antonio Valencia and Paul Pogba on his Instagram account.
It is also interesting to note Mina has removed suggestions of being a Barcelona defender from his profile, by deleting ‘Barca player’ from his personal description.
While some supporters will be excited by the prospect of the Barcelona defender joining the club this summer, it is also worth noting similar activity from Alvaro Morata last summer.
Mina might be keen on a move to United this summer but M.E.N. Sport does not believe he is a top target as Jose Mourinho looks to bolster his defensive IF he hasn’t already, Jose Mourinho will be tempted to remind Ed Woodward of the events of last summer when he next speaks to United’s executive vice chairman.
The pair are expected to get together in Miami over the coming days as United draw a close to what has been a troubled tour. And Mourinho’s relationship with Woodward is now the focus of attention in what has been another frustrating transfer window.
United’s manager was prepared to keep his powder dry when first heading out here to the US on July 15. But more than two weeks on, his exasperation over the failure to add to his squad has led to increasingly tense public statements, which have turned the spotlight firmly on Woodward.
He will expect good news when they next meet, even if he has lowered his expectations from two more additions before the window closes on August 9 to just one.
That may well be Harry Maguire, leaving Mourinho short of the right winger he first asked his board to sign 12 months ago. Back then - as is the case now - Gareth Bale was the dream target. The more attainable option was Ivan Perisic - which is why Mourinho was so disappointed when Inter Milan’s £48m price tag was deemed too high and United entered the new season without the fourth signing their manager believed was vital to their title hopes.
Roll the clock forward and once again Mourinho looks set to have to accept being left short-handed.
Perisic’s value has increased significantly post Neymar’s £200m move to Paris St Germain and his outstanding World Cup.
Mourinho would have every right to remind Woodward he could have signed the winger for significantly less than his current market value, which is in the region of £6070m.
Sources claim United were reluctant to buy a player in his late 20s who might obstruct the development of Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial. Yet that didn’t stop them from recruiting 29-year-old Alexis Sanchez in January. While Mourinho was certainly happy with the ambition shown to sign such a stellar player - and to steal him from Manchester City’s clutches - it still didn’t resolve the right wing issue he’d identified the previous summer. Should he have to accept just one more signing - regardless of the position - it is difficult to see it being enough to turn a side that finished 19 points adrift of City into title material. Especially when a significantly improved Liverpool are added to the mix. Should Maguire - or even Toby Alderweireld - head to Old Trafford, Mourinho can expect an improvement to a defence that is solid, but lacks guile. But he will still be left with an unbalanced attack that has no obvious solution on the right. Should his only addition be a forward then he faces the prospect of continuing to rely heavily on a back four made up Sir Alex Ferguson signings. A defence that requires so much protection it impacts on United’s attacking James Robson intent and effectiveness. At least in midfield Mourinho now has one that is comparable with the best in the Premier League after making a major investment in that department in each of his summer windows at the club.
The £52m signing Fred this summer is his latest move to overhaul an area of United’s squad that has been in need of serious address dating back to the end of Ferguson’s reign.
His utter determination to secure a new deal for Marouane Fellaini makes more sense in light of United’s lack of urgency in the market.
Fred was the replacement for the retired Michael Carrick. Could he really trust his board to deliver another elite midfielder to fill the void left by Fellaini? The Belgian divides opinion among fans but he is a viable first team option for Mourinho that he might not have been able to replace in this window.
Ante Rebic has emerged as this year’s Perisic - a more attainable target than Mourinho’s preferred choices. After his impressive World Cup in the same Croatia team as Perisic, he is likely to cost a similar amount to the price United were quoted for his countryman last year.
That fact will not be lost on Mourinho - nor Woodward after their next get together.