Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho is reportedly plotting a move for Everton right-back Seamus Coleman in the forthcoming winter transfer window. Coleman was a target for the Red Devils when former Everton boss David Moyes was at the helm.
According to the Mirror, Mourinho has requested vice-chairman Ed Woodward to table a £16 million move for the 27-year-old. Mourinho had also sent scouts to monitor Coleman's performance for Everton during the Friday night fixture against Crystal Palace which ended in a 1-1 draw.
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Over the past few seasons, Coleman has established himself as one of the top football players in the Premier League. His blistering pace coupled with astute defensive skills and the ability to start quick counter attacks makes him one of the most feared full-backs on the planet.
Manchester United's right-back position looks to be in a state of limbo currently as Italian Matteo Darmian has found himself on the fringes and although Antonio Valencia provides an option going forwards, he has been caught out of position quite a few times during the campaign and doesn't seem to be the best fit defensively.
On the other hand, a seasoned campaigner in Seamus Coleman would provide the right balance in terms of attack and defense and would be expected to be the perfect fit. The Irishman has played a total of 224 games for the Toffees notching up 20 goals and 21 assists in that period.
United have also been monitoring the progress of youngster Timothy Fosu-Mensah, but as observed before Mourinho isn't willing to place his faith in the youngsters.
It will be interesting to see how Everton boss Ronald Koeman responds to this rumour. While the Toffees would be unwilling to lose a player of Coleman’s abilities, a lucrative offer from Jose’s side would be really tough for them to resist.
Splashing the cash on Seamus Coleman would not be much of a problem for the Red Devils after a summer which saw them shell out ludicrous sums of money in order to acquire the services of Paul Pogba, Eric Bailly and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
United continue their Premier League campaign next Tuesday with a game against Liverpool while Everton head to Manchester City on Saturday.
