United and Chelsea are set to battle for Roma's Miralem Pjanic AND Toni Kroos is also back on the Red Devils' radar
Jose Mourinho has already decided which areas of Manchester United's team he needs to strengthen, according to reports.
The Portuguese boss is widely expected to replace Louis van Gaal as Old Trafford boss at the end of the season.
And Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio claims the former Chelsea man has identified three positions which he must improve if United are to challenge for silverware under his reign next term.
Di Marzio said: “For Mourinho’s part, he’s been an observer, on a tour of stadiums around Europe.
“He’s been looking for a quality midfielder, a central defender and a truly decisive striker for his future team.
“The deal between United and Mourinho isn’t yet signed, but there’s been a sort of ‘gentleman’s agreement’, which is why he’s already working on behalf of United in a sense.”
United could end up battling Chelsea for the signature of Roma midfielder Miralem Pjanic.
According to the Times, Antonio Conte, who is expected to take over at Stamford Bridge in the summer, has identified Pjanic as a potential transfer target.
United have also been linked with the Bosnia and Herzegovina international, with the likes of Michael Carrick and Bastian Schweinsteiger both in their 30s.
Pjanic, 25, has been at Roma since joining from Lyon in 2011.
United renew Kroos interest
Manchester United have renewed their interest in Toni Kroos, writes Mirror Football's Adrian Kajumba.
Real Madrid star Kroos is one of the names at the top of United's list of summer midfield targets.
The Red Devils had lined up a move to sign World Cup winner Kroos from Bayern Munich in 2014, when David Moyes was their manager.
But Moyes was sacked, his replacement Louis van Gaal chose to look elsewhere and the classy German playmaker moved to Madrid instead.
Now, Van Gaal seems almost certain to leave Old Trafford at the end of the season and Kroos is back on the radar.
Cole hails Rashford
Andy Cole has hailed Manchester United rising star Marcus Rashford - and backed him to keep his place, writes Mirror Football's Ben Burrows.
The 18-year-old academy product has burst on to the scene in the last fortnight scoring four goals in his first two games in Louis van Gaal's senior side, including a brace on his Premier League debut against Arsenal last weekend.
Injuries to more established stars gave Rashford his chance, but Cole - who himself starred on the Old Trafford turf in his playing days - has backed him to stay amongst the goals and in the team.
"It's been a great start. He's scored goals in the under-21s and got his chance and taken it," he told Mirror Football.
"If you ask any kid if they want to score two goals on their debut they'd be delighted - but four in his first two games is amazing. He's very exciting."
So should Rashford keep his place, even when other more senior players return?
"You have to say 'why not?' He's scoring goals, he works defenders hard - which is something you don't see very often these days."
Fletcher issues warning to United youngsters
Darren Fletcher has admitted West Brom will look to be “physical” and rough up Manchester United’s young stars, writes Mirror Football's James Nursey.
The Baggies captain is preparing to face his old club with Tony Pulis’ men on the back of a three-game unbeaten run in the Premier League.
But Louis van Gaal’s resurgent United are in form too – fired by the stunning goals of teenage superstar Marcus Rashford.
Rashford, 18, has banged in four goals following Wayne Rooney’s injury and fellow prospects Timothy Fosu-Mensah, 18, James Weir, 20, Joe Riley, 18, Andreas Pereira, 20 and Paddy McNair, 20, have also featured recently.
Fletcher says Albion must prey on United’s youngsters at The Hawthorns on Sunday as they bid to halt his previous club’s surge back towards the Champions League places.
The 32-year-old Scotland international said: “They’re inexperienced and coming to the Hawthorns we need to make it a really difficult game for them. We have to use our experience and we are one of the most experienced teams in the Premier League.
“Sometimes it has to be a battle with a lot of physical strong men and we have to exploit weaknesses in them.”
United to give supporters free away shirts
Manchester United are to send every supporter travelling to Liverpool for their Europa League clash next week a free replica away shirt in a bid to create a 'wall of white' in the visitors' section, writes Mirror Football's James Whaling.
Louis van Gaal's side travel to Anfield for the first leg of the tie on Thursday, and United have hatched a plan to "generate the best possible atmosphere" in the away end.
The Adidas shirts will be sent in the post to all ticket holders prior to the match in the last of Europe's second-tier competition.
There will be less than 3,000 United fans making the short trip, and the Red Devils hope to have them all kitted out to create a visual spectacle as the two sides enter the field of play.
It follows Sunderland offering supporters a similar deal at West Ham last weekend, giving each travelling fan a complimentary green away top.
Both fixtures of the last-16 tie will now kick-off at 20:05, after United and Trafford Council protested to UEFA about the proposed 6pm kick-off of the return fixture at Old Trafford.
No comments:
Post a Comment