Manchester United: Five best signings of the Mourinho era

Jose Mourinho has not had the best of times at Manchester United this pre-season. The Portuguese manager has tried and failed to sign several players over the last month or so, and with the clock ticking down on this year's transfer window, it looks as though this could be one of their worst transfer windows on record.

They have bought in just Fred, Diego Dalot and third-choice goalkeeper Lee Grant so far this summer, and they look likely to miss out on the centre back that Jose Mourinho has been hoping to sign.

Contrary to current belief though, Mourinho has been fairly successful in the transfer window in his two years at Manchester United and has built perhaps the strongest side Old Trafford has seen since Sir Alex Ferguson left the club in 2013.

With United fans feeling fairly gloomy today, let's take a look at the five best signings Mourinho has made since he joined the club.

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#5 Paul Pogba

Pogba became the most expensive player in history when he rejoined Manchester United in 2016

Paul Pogba was one of Jose Mourinho's first signings when he came to Manchester United and the French midfielder has, for the most part, lived up to his reputation in the Premier League.

Coming in for a world record transfer fee of around £89 million, the World Cup winner took a while to get going back in Manchester, but he did help the club win both the League Cup and the Europa League in his first season back.

Pogba has become one of the most consistent players at Manchester United over the last season, and has contributed 15 goals for the club in his 88 games there.

Interest from Barcelona means that he may not be a Manchester United player for much longer, but his contributions to the club should not be underestimated.

#4 Eric Bailly

Bailly has been a rock at the back for Manchester United

Mourinho's first signing as Manchester United manager is still one of his best. The Ivory Coast defender has become a staple of Jose Mourinho's side at Old Trafford, and at just 24 years old, he still has plenty to offer the club in the future.

Since Ferguson left, and the club lost both Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand, and United have struggled for good centre-backs. While Bailly's first two seasons at United have seen him suffer from some injury issues, he has been a rock for the club whenever he has been on the pitch.

Mourinho's biggest headache since becoming United manager has been finding a consistent partner for Bailly, and if he can do that, then United might finally be able to make a return to the glory days.

#3 Romelu Lukaku

Lukaku has been a consistent goal threat for Manchester United

Zlatan Ibrahimovic aside, one thing Manchester United have lacked since Sir Alex Ferguson departed, is a consistent goalscorer.

As a result, United fans were understandably excited when their club signed Romelu Lukaku at the start of last season.

Lukaku had actually worked under Mourinho in the past, with the Portuguese manager selling him to Everton for £28 million in 2014. It was there that he really established himself as one of the best strikers in the league, scoring 87 goals in his 166 appearances at the club.

Mourinho would then sign him back for United, and the Belgian quickly went about establishing himself as the club's top striker, scoring 10 goals in his opening nine games. His form would inevitably dip throughout the season, but he still finished his first season at the club with 27 goals in all competition, and 16 in the Premier League.

Lukaku is still only 25 years old, and could turn out to be one of the best pieces of business Mourinho has ever done.

#2 Nemanja Matic

Matic has worked wonders in midfield for Manchester United

Nemanja Matic was influential in midfield for Jose Mourinho at Chelsea, and it seemed like only a matter of time before he made a move for the Serbian midfielder when he joined Manchester United.

It was, in fact, at the start of Mourinho's second season in Manchester that he made a move for Matic, and the tough-tackling centre midfielder more than repaid his manager's faith in his first season at Old Trafford.

Matic would go on to play 49 games for the club in his first season and was pivotal in them securing a Champions League spot. Fans will also forever be grateful for his stunning last-minute goal away at Crystal Palace, which secured a 3-2 comeback victory for the Red Devils.

#1 Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Ibrahimovic brought some magic back to Old Trafford

In the Alex Ferguson days, Manchester United would not only attract big name stars, but it would also get the best out of them, and it is this that has been a major problem for the club since the Scotsman left.

Players like Radamel Falcao, Angel Di Maria, and Memphis Depay, have all arrived at United riding a wave of momentum, only to fail miserably when they've walked out at Old Trafford.

One player who truly lived up to his reputation, though, was Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The iconic Swede arrived in Manchester at the age of 35 and proved that he still had plenty left in the tank.

Zlatan and Manchester United felt like a match made in heaven, and the Swede would go on to score 28 goals in his debut season for the club.

Zlatan's second season at the club was plagued by injury, but the Old Trafford faithful will forever be grateful for the Swede's contributions to the club.