Manchester United have been struck hard by the run of three defeats this past week, and Jose Mourinho reportedly wants to bring in another central midfielder in January to free up Paul Pogba for an attacking role
Manchester United have already re-signed one of their youth products for big money as they made Paul Pogba the world’s most expensive transfer.
It seems like manager Jose Mourinho is looking to go the same route again to get the best out of Pogba, as he is reportedly planning a January move for Leicester City midfielder Danny Drinkwater.
According to the Sun, Mourinho wants to bring back the Manchester-born player in the hope that he can partner Pogba in central midfield. The Portuguese manager believes that Drinkwater will help get the best out of the 23-year-old Frenchman.
The report adds that Manchester United are willing to offer the Premier League champions £30 million for the 26-year-old Englishman. They are also willing to raise the current £90,000-a-week pay that he gets at Leicester to £150,000 per week, almost double his current wages.
Drinkwater joined Manchester United at the age of nine and went on to spend 13 years at the club, before joining in 2012 for an undisclosed fee. However, the midfielder never made an appearance for the senior team, spending most of his professional career with United out on loan.
The 26-year-old has since become a vital cog in the Leicester City team, being one of the key figures behind their shocking Premier League triumph last season. Drinkwater can hold up the midfield and has a good defensive work-rate. He also chipped in with two goals and seven assists for Leicester in their title winning campaign.
Drinkwater has earlier stated that leaving Manchester United was one of the low points in his career, and the native Mancunian would surely jump at the opportunity to return to his boyhood club.
However, the rationale behind the move seems confusing. Mourinho already has an experienced defensive midfielder in Morgan Schneiderlin, who was one of the best in the league with Southampton. The likes of Ander Herrera, Michael Carrick and Bastian Schweinsteiger are also capable of playing in the central midfield spot currently occupied by Marouane Fellaini.
Unless Manchester United are planning on offloading another midfielder, and not just the outcast Bastian Schweinsteiger, a move for Drinkwater is unlikely to be considered seriously.
