Big Move: Man United set to launch fresh bid for La Liga winning defender
Jul 29, 2016 at 3:00 PM
Manchester United are ready to reignite their interest in Joao Miranda this summer, Daily Mail reports.
United have tried to land Miranda over the past two years but couldn’t manage to come up with any successful bid.
The Red Devils might lose Marcos Rojo and Daley Blind ahead of the upcoming season and they are keeping close tabs on the Brazilian centre-back as a possible replacement.
Miranda is currently halfway through a two-year loan at Inter Milan from Atletico Madrid and enjoyed an impressive first season at the San Siro.
The 31-year-old Brazilian was watched by United scouts at the end of last season but any move is not likely to happen unless a space in the squad is left free.
Standing at 6ft 1in, Miranda is a solid defender who could rightly fit the bill for Mourinho, alongside another centre-back more able to shape the game.
More physical than talented, Miranda is very quick with the tackle and always looks to be in the right place at the right time.
But Miranda may be not talented enough to shape Manchester United’s game from the back.
Rojo is running out of time at the moment. Mourinho has already said he does not want to wait until August 31 to finalise his squad. It means he is on the clock if they want to impress their new manager.
Same goes for Phil Jones. He, in particular, has the physical characteristics the Portuguese coach has looked for in his defenders. But after an injury-ravaged season Jones looks short of confidence. It may already be too late for Rojo.
Mourinho has so far taken the time to look at the players he inherited from Louis van, Gaal. But eventually, he will have to trim his bloated squad.
Jones and Rojo still have a chance play a key role under Mourinho next season. They wasted their first opportunity against Dortmund. They might not get many more.