Manchester United will be disappointed by missing out on Champions League football for next season, and will look to bounce back in a manner that has become characteristic of them these past few seasons — spending big in the summer transfer market.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is without a club this summer after a sensational final season in Paris and the Swede apparently wants a reunion with Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford. The Red Devils are also monitoring two rising young stars in Portugal and Germany to address their issues with power and creativity in midfield.
Zlatan offered Manchester United contract, but wants Mourinho there first
Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be a free agent this summer as he says goodbye to Paris Saint-Germain. While he has been linked with the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and West Ham, Manchester United have made the first move to sign the striker by offering him a one-year contract with the option of a one-year extension, according to French outlet RMC.
However, Zlatan has a very sour relationship with current manager Louis van Gaal, whom he described as a dictator in his autobiography. The 34-year-old is believed to be keen on a move only if the Iron Tulip is replaced by his former manager at Internazionale Jose Mourinho. Having scored 50 goals in 48 matches this season with PSG, the big Swede is showing no signs of slowing down and Manchester United could use his quality given their struggle for goals this campaign.
Red Devils scouting Sporting CP midfielder Joao Mario
Manchester United sent scouts to watch Sporting CP’s Portuguese midfielder Joao Mario in the Lisbon side’s game against Sporting Braga last Sunday, according to the Daily Mail. The Red Devils have upped their interest in Mario since Renato Sanches moved to Bayern Munich, and the player is also believed to be keen to secure a move to Old Trafford.
The 23-year-old has been one of the linchpins of Sporting’s midfield this season and would be the third Portuguese player to move from Sporting CP to Manchester United after Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani. The Red Devils face competition from Ligue 1 giants PSG, who recently saw a £27 million bid for the midfielder turned down. Standing in their way though is a whopping £45 million release clause in his contract which runs till 2020.
Man United are unlikely to baulk at such a figure given their transfer policy of late. Mario is capable of playing a holding midfielder role and would be a smart replacement for the departing Michael Carrick. The injury plagued Bastian Schweinsteiger is hardly dependable enough to fill in, and Mario could form a good partnership with Morgan Schneiderlin in central midfield.
Manchester United are also scouting £40 million Schalke youngster Leroy Sane
Leroy Sane, who has been the subject of much interest from the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City and Barcelona, is turning heads due to his impressive form for Bundesliga club Schalke this season. Manchester United are the latest club to express an interest in Sane after their scouts scrutinized the young German as he scored his ninth goal of the season in Schalke 4-1 win over Hoffenheim on Saturday, according to the Daily Mail.
The Bundesliga club have denied the existence of a reported release clause of £28 million, and have set a price of £40 million in an effort to keep the big clubs at bay. However that price will not be enough to keep either Manchester club away, and it is very likely that Sane will head to the green pastures of the Premier League this summer.
Leroy Sane plays primarily on the right wing, which is a position both City and United need to strengthen. While Manchester City would like an alternative to the mercurial Jesus Navas on the right, Jesse Lingard hasn’t exactly set the stage on fire after emerging as the first-choice right winger for Manchester United for the majority of this season.
