Jose Mourinho has dropped one of the biggest hints that Manchester United are in the race to sign Juventus star Paul Pogba, after admitting that the Red Devils are looking to sign one more player this summer.
The Manchester United boss has already made three signings this summer, with the likes of Eric Bailly, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic having already joined the club. However, the Portuguese manager has reiterated that the Red Devils need to make one more big signing in order to challenge for silverware in the upcoming season.
“I said at the first press conference at Old Trafford, our market has a fundamental part. And that fundamental part is four players: one central defender, one midfielder, one striker, and one creative player,” Mourinho was quoted as saying in ESPN.
Manchester United suffered a heavy 4-1 loss at the hands of German giants Borussia Dortmund in a pre-season friendly on Friday, but Mourinho defended his team by pointing out that most of his top players are yet to return from their vacations after the 2016 European Championships.
“And when we finish that fundamental market we are balanced. Maybe today you don’t feel it but no [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic, no [Marouane] Fellaini, no [Anthony] Martial, no [Morga] Schneiderlin. So lots of them who are not here yet,” said Mourinho. “Then, the market will be open until the 31st of August, and sometimes things happen that you are not expecting, and we have to react. But our fundamental market is 75 percent done. And when we sign one midfield player that crucial work will be done.”
Mourinho confirms Pogba pursuit
Manchester United have been rumoured to be very close to signing Juventus star Paul Pogba this summer. While Jose Mourinho has said that he needs four new signings ahead of the new season, he also dropped a huge hint about who his fourth signing will be.
When asked about the Pogba rumours, Mourinho said, “I am not going to try to make you naive and believe that we are not trying for one player. But we know first of all that the player belongs to another club, which is not a small club. It is also a big club, a club with economical power to fight for their best players, to try and keep their best players.” [via ESPN]
While the Red Devils have already signed three players, Pogba seems to be the only target they are yet to acquire. Essentially, Mourinho seems to be building the backbone of the Manchester United side this season, as Bailly, Mkhitaryan, and Ibrahimovic are all set to operate as centre-back, playmaker, and centre forward.
The Portuguese has been known to follow this model, while building a team. He had famously built a strong side during his first season at Chelsea, with the likes of goalkeeper Petr Cech, centre-back John Terry, central midfielder Frank Lampard, and centre-forward Didier Drogba forming a strong backbone that nearly lasted a decade.
