“Ed Woodward has my list, what I want, what I would like for more than two months. So now it’s up to him and the owners.”
So said/demanded Jose Mourinho after Manchester United’s Europa League triumph in Stockholm.
Mourinho guided United back, via the scenic route, to the Champions League and he was laying out his demands to the United board. As he did last summer, Mourinho handed over his list to United chief executive Ed Woodward. There are three options for each position he wants filled.
Victor Lindelof has arrived for a fee of £30.75m but Mourinho wants further deals wrapped up before United embark on their summer tour. The Portuguese is said to be unhappy at the stall in his side’s transfer activity and Woodward taking in the British & Irish Lions rugby tour on his summer break has not helped.
Two men that are reported to feature prominently on Mourinho’s list are Ivan Perisic and Alvaro Morata. United are said to have set aside £95m to secure their services but both Inter Milan and Real Madrid are holding out for more.
Sky Italia report that United have tabled a second, improved bid of £39.5m for Croatian midfielder Perisic but Inter want £48m. Perisic moved to the Italian side for £17.5m in 2015.
As for Morata, who is said to be keen on a move to United, Real will not part ways with him for anything less than £72m. That’s what they say anyway.
Morata is 24, four years younger than Perisic, and has proven himself in Italy [with Juventus] and Spain. With Zlatan Ibrahimovic off United’s books, for now at least, Mourinho sees him as his ideal frontman.
Were Woodward – fresh off the plane from New Zealand – to get those deals done before United set off to America for the start of their summer tour, that could take their summer spending up to around £150m.
Mourinho may not be finished there, either, as both Nemanja Matic and Monaco star Fabinho have both been linked with the club.
