Pellegrini has eyes for Perez
JOSE MOURINHO has appealed for help from his World Cup stars ahead of Manchester United’s Premier League opener.
He has appealed to Paul Pogba, Romelu Lukaku, Marouane Fellaini, Jesse Lingard and Ashley Young to make themselves available for Friday’s game with Leicester at Old Trafford despite the fact they will be undercooked after reporting back for duty late following post-World Cup breaks.
With Nemanja Matic ruled out following a stomach operation, Eric Bailly and Ander Herrera doubtful after picking up knocks in the final warm-up game against Bayern Munich on Sunday and Anthony Martial’s future uncertain, Mourinho is short of fit and available players.
Marcus Rashford, Victor Lindelof and Phil Jones all returned early from their holidays last week and gained some vital minutes of match action in Munich and now Mourinho wants more of his Russia contingent to do the same.
“Rashford will be in a better situation on Friday than against Munich, Lindelof and Jones the same,” he said. “The others are back on Monday. Let’s see if one of the others is ready to give a help, 20-25 minutes, against Leicester. Any help that can come from them is welcome.”
Mourinho has endured a frustrating pre-season, unhappy that all of his transfer targets have not materialised.
He is frustrated by the lack of players who have been available to train because of postWorld Cup holidays and irritated by Martial’s refusal to return to the US tour after being given permission to return home for the birth of his second child and subsequently losing a week of key preparation time.
Martial was left out of the squad for Munich and ordered to do a double training session because Mourinho felt intensive training would be more beneficial to the France forward than minutes on the pitch.
Mourinho is desperate to sign a central defender and with Leicester refusing to sell Harry Maguire, and Tottenham refusing to lower their asking price for Toby Alderweireld, Bayern Munich’s Jerome Boateng has become his latest target. He also would like a wide player but is running out WEST HAM are closing in on a deal for misfit Arsenal striker Lucas Perez.
The Spaniard has struggled to make his mark at the Emirates Stadium since completing a £17million switch from Deportivo La Coruna two years ago.
And he has now emerged as a target for Hammers manager Manuel Pellegrini, who is keen to add to his forward options.
Gunners boss Unai Emery has told Perez that he is way down the pecking order, raising West Ham’s hopes they can complete a £5m swoop for the striker. Perez’s agent Rodrigo Fernandez Lovelle said: “I know that West Ham want him and they have made an offer.
“Lucas is happy at Arsenal but he wants to play regularly and West Ham is an option for him.
“There are other clubs interested but joining West Ham would allow him to stay in London and in the Premier League and Lucas wants to continue in London.”
Arsenal defender Calum Chambers, meanwhile, is set to join Fulham on a season-long loan.
The centre-back, 23, has only recently signed a new four-year deal with the Gunners. EVERTON are set to complete the signing of Brazilian forward Bernard after beating Chelsea and West Ham to snap up the Shakhtar Donetsk star. Bernard, 26, left, who can play a number of attacking positions, will arrive at Goodison Park on a free transfer, subject to a work permit, after new boss Marco Silva persuaded him Everton was the place to be.