Manchester United transfer roundup: Real Madrid close in on €100 million United target, Red Devils wanted to sign €185 million superstar and more – August 11, 2018

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Mourinho must accept changes in policies

Hello and welcome to the Manchester United transfer roundup for the day! The transfer window closed two days ago and Manchester United’s summer transfer window ended with just three new arrivals.

However, life goes on and so does the rumour mill. And with it, the stories also continue coming up as here are the top reports regarding the biggest club in England.


#5 Jose Mourinho the head coach

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has lamented the failure of achieving his goals in the transfer market but also stated that every club will have a difficult season up ahead.

The Red Devils were in the market for a central defender but couldn’t land one despite being linked with a plethora of them over the course of the summer. As a result, Mourinho feels like his role is more of a head coach instead of a manager.

“It will be a difficult season for everybody, not just for us. I had my plans for many months and I find myself with the market closed in a situation I did not think I would be in,” said the former Chelsea manager.

“That’s football management. I think football is changing and managers should be called head coaches. I think we are more head coaches than managers,” he said.

The former Real Madrid manager then added that Leicester City have spent more than the Red Devils and that the bigger clubs must get used to playing against teams that have qualities similar to them.

“We played against a team that invest more than us. They spent more money than us, so in the Premier League we must get used to teams with players of the same quality that we have,” he said.

Finally, he concluded by saying that he doesn’t want to talk about the transfer market as it is closed now.

“Forget the name, the history, the shirt, every match is difficult. I think it’s the last time we speak about it, it’s over, finished, the market is closed and no more talk about it.”

#4 No more aging players

France v Croatia - 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Final
No overaged players

Jose Mourinho is the type of manager whose activities in the transfer market with Manchester United reflect the type of coach that he is. The Portuguese mostly looks for quick fixes, players who can instantly improve the team but hardly have any resale value or benefits in the long term.

This is why he had targeted the likes of Ivan Perisic, Toby Alderweireld and even Diego Godin to improve his wing and defence. However, according to the information obtained by the Mirror, this is something that doesn’t sit well with the Manchester United board anymore.

According to the report, Mourinho has been told by the board that he should be looking to improve the younger players that are on the roster currently instead of signing aged players for big amounts.

#3 Varane

France v Croatia - 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Final
The World Cup winner

As mentioned in the previous slide, Mourinho’s desire to land a center-back was so much that the club were linked to at least five center-backs in the last few weeks of the transfer window.

Raphael Varane was a name among them. According to The Sun, Mourinho was so desperate to sign a defender that the Red Devils were willing to spend a £100 million for the World Cup-winning French star – which would have been a record deal for a defender if the deal crossed the line.

#2 Sergej Milinkovic-Savic

SS Lazio Training Session
SS Lazio Training Session

AC Milan general manager Leonardo has stated that Manchester United and Real Madrid target Sergej Milinkovoc-Savic is not feasible for AC Milan. After a sensational year, the Serbian has attracted the interest of many clubs, which is why it would be difficult for the San Siro outfit to get him.

“Sergej Milinkovic-Savic? Difficult. Unfortunately, today he does not enter into our parameters. Half Europe dreams of him, he is modern, good at playing with his head and in the insertions from the midfield. Unfortunately, at this moment it is not a feasible thing,” he said.

Meanwhile, Julen Lopetegui wants the Serbian at the Bernabeu. After the departure of Mateo Kovacic to Chelsea and Modric’s reported interest in joining Inter, Madrid want another big-name midfielder to fill the void. Don Balon also add that while Lazio want €100 million for him, Perez believes that he can get him for cheaper.

#1 Kylian Mbappe

France v Croatia - 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Final
A legend in the making

The World Cup ensured that the rise of Kylian Mbappe continued as the French youngster has become a household name after his astonishing performances at the World Cup.

The 19-year-old became the first teenager since Pele to score two goals in a single World Cup knockout game and also became the first teenager since the great Brazilian to score in the final.

As a result, his status in world football has reached the top echelons – which is why Manchester United wanted to sign him as, according to Mirror, their new strategy is to buy young talent and nurture them.

PSG, who bought for him for a deal worth around €185 million, rejected the advances of the Old Trafford outfit straight away.

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