Mourinho has more cash to burn
ROSTER MAKEOVER: Man United manager could top $498m mark in transfer fees as he eyes his next moves
LONDON — Jose Mourinho has set his sights on signing Atletico Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann, Benfica defenders Victor Lindelof and Nelson Semedo and Monaco midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko next year as his Old Trafford revolution gathers pace.
The Manchester United manager has identified that quartet as leading targets for the next two transfer windows as he prepares to take his gross spending over the course of his first year in charge soaring past the $498.2-million mark.
Griezmann, Bakayoko and Semedo are all summer targets, but Lindelof could be first through the door next month should United formalize its interest. United is not in a rush to tie up a deal for the young Swedish centre half, who is valued at up to $63.1 million, but they have had talks with Benfica and agent Jorge Mendes.
United would have to meet the $140.1-million release clause in Griezmann’s contract, which was increased from $112.1 million when the forward signed a new deal in June that ties him to Atletico until 2021. But they hope a potential transfer could be smoothed by the likely departure of Atletico coach Diego Simeone, who will be a free agent next summer after taking the extraordinary step this year of shortening his deal with the Spanish club by two years.
Simeone could move to Italy, with Inter Milan among the interested parties, and that may weaken Atletico’s hopes of retaining some of its best players. Griezmann, 25, who was the leading scorer at the European Championship last summer with six goals for host nation France, is also best friends with United midfielder Paul Pogba, his compatriot, and United is likely to take full advantage of the pair’s relationship in an effort to secure Mourinho’s priority summer target.
Pogba’s arrival in August for a world-record $147.8-million fee from Juventus followed the signings of defender Eric Bailly, midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan and striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and took Mourinho’s gross spending to $242 million. That figure could swell to as much as $539.7 million) if United pulls off moves for Griezmann, Lindelof, Bakayoko and Semedo, who would cost a combined total of about $298.9 million.
United faces competition from Chelsea for Bakayoko, a $58.1-million-rated powerful defensive midfielder who could provide a longterm alternative to Michael Carrick, and Bayern Munich for Semedo, a pacy right back valued at $41.5 million.
United would not be opposed to waiting until the summer for Lindelof, when a $42-million release clause in the player’s contract activates. But with others interested in the 22-year-old, the picture could change. Benfica coach Rui Vitoria has refused to rule out the player moving to Old Trafford. “If there are exits, we will find solutions,” he said.
Mourinho would not be averse to more cover at centre half given that he could be without Bailly for up to six weeks from early next month owing to his involvement in the African Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast, but the manager was reticent when asked about Lindelof Wednesday. “Every player in Portugal now is coming to Manchester United,” Mourinho said. “A few seasons ago, every player from Portugal was going to Chelsea and Real Madrid. It’s normal (given) the connection with me, but I keep saying the same thing: I like my squad, I want to keep my squad, I believe more in the summer market than in the winter transfer window — there’s more stability, more time, more choice. I think it’s better.
“But let’s see what happens. If we buy a player (in January), we are not buying two, three or four. If we open the door for somebody to leave, it’s not because we push him, it’s because someone really wants to leave. But for me, I will be more than happy to keep the squad as it is (in January).”
Strong, fast, good in the air and an intelligent reader of the game, Lindelof has enjoyed a dramatic rise to prominence this year after injuries to first-team regulars Luisao, Lisandro Lopez and Jardel opened the door to him. He won his first senior call-up for Sweden soon after and United’s Swedish striker Ibrahimovic described Lindelof last month as a player “doing great things.”
United is also monitoring Semedo, who could provide strong competition for Antonio Valencia. The Ecuadorean is 31 and with fullback Matteo Darmian likely to depart next year, Mourinho wants to bring in a new right back, but United must see off Bayern. Semedo has a $112.1-million release clause in his contract, which expires in June 2021, but he would cost a fraction of that sum. Like Lindelof, Semedo is represented by Mendes, who is also Mourinho’s agent.
Despite barely using Carrick at the start of the season, Mourinho has come to depend on the veteran English midfielder, who will be 36 in July, and has intimated that he could offer the player a 12-month contract extension. But Mourinho wants to sign a long-term replacement in advance and his eye has been drawn regularly to Bakayoko, the French under-21 team midfielder who has been scouted extensively and has played a key role in Monaco’s impressive start to the season.
Monaco hopes to create an auction for the player with Chelsea also in the running.