GET MORE YOUNG DEVILS
Mourinho told by United bosses strategy must become ‘more like rivals Man City’
JOSE Mourinho has been told by Manchester United chiefs that he must change his strategy in the transfer market after an unsuccessful summer window.
The Red Devils were only able to make three signings in the summer window and Mourinho was left frustrated at a perceived lack of activity from executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward.
Now, according to The Mirror, Mourinho has been informed by his bosses at Old Trafford that he must rip up his typical transfer policy and focus on younger players that can be developed.
The report claims United officials have warned Mourinho that he must stop targeting expensive players at the peak of their powers as stopgaps and instead develop young talent.
During Mourinho's time in charge at Old Trafford the club have welcomed Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Alexis Sanchez and Nemanja Matic among others. All three were 28 or older when they joined the club on financially lucrative contracts.
Woodward dug his heels in this summer over the potential departures of Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial, despite Mourinho's desire to see both leave.
Both Frenchmen are seen as pivotal to the long-term future of the club and are prime examples of the players the board want to see at United moving forward.
The board have reportedly even gone as far as to suggest their policy should shift to a model similar to bitter rivals Manchester City, who have purchased younger players to develop their talents under Pep Guardiola.
Ederson (24), Aymeric Laporte (24), Bernardo Silva (24), Raheem Sterling (23), Leroy Sane (22) and Gabriel Jesus (21) were all crucial players in City's emphatic Premier League title win last season.
Mourinho was left frustrated as United failed to bring in a central defender in the closing stages of the transfer window.
The club had approaches for Harry Maguire and Diego Godin rebuffed while they refused to pay the financial necessities to sign Yerry Mina or Toby Alderweireld. Daily Mail