With 18 points from their opening 11 Premier League fixtures and their Europa League campaign hanging in the balance, Manchester United’s 2016/17 season has been anything but perfect so far.
One of the issues Jose Mourinho seems to be struggling with is piecing together the best starting XI from the players in his squad. He’s even called out a couple of members of his first-team.
And, with the January transfer window just around the corner, it appears that the Red Devils boss might be growing tired with the options he currently has available to him.
That’s because, according to reports in the French media today, Mourinho had United scouts in the stands during Tuesday night’s friendly international between France and the Ivory Coast.
The news may raise hopes amongst fans at Old Trafford that recent speculation linking their team to a stunning move for Antoine Griezmann could be more than just rumours.
However, according to InfoSPORT+ – an arm of Canal Plus in France – it was actually a man playing against the Euro 2016 finalists who was the centre of attention for the United contingent.
In a series of Tweets, seen below, they explained that it is Ivory Coast and ParisSaint-Germain right-back Serge Aurier that is under the microscope.
INFO CANAL+ : Serge #Aurier a été supervisé par Manchester United hier soir à Lens lors de #FRACIV (1/3) #ManUtd pic.twitter.com/7rh8OGrtJM
— INFOSPORT+ (@infosportplus) November 16, 2016
INFO C+: P. #Guardiola, coach #ManCity, est aussi en contact avec le conseiller du joueur & souhaiterait son transfert l’été prochain. (2/3) pic.twitter.com/Kab1F2RYSk
— INFOSPORT+ (@infosportplus) November 16, 2016
INFO C+: Naples, dont l’offre avait été rejetée l’été dernier, le suit toujours.
L’Atlético reste à l’affût pour remplacer Juanfran (3/3) pic.twitter.com/W2ov2BZ4bJ— INFOSPORT+ (@infosportplus) November 16, 2016
Translated, their update reads:
“Serge #Aurier was overseen by Manchester United last night in Lens to at #FRACIV…
” P. #Guardiola, coach #ManCity, is also in contact with the Adviser to the player & would like to transfer next summer…
“Naples, whose offer was rejected last summer, still follows him. Atletico stay tuned to replace Juanfran.”
As you can see, United certainly face competition if they are serious about bringing in the 23-year-old defender.
However, with Antonio Valencia currently out injured following surgery and Matteo Darmian far from a fit under Mourinho, the Red Devils could be the most serious about trying to bring in Aurier when the transfer window reopens in January.
Having helped PSG to two Ligue 1 titles and with 31 caps to his name at international level, the powerful right-back seems a good fit for the Premier League.
But he would arrive with baggage. In September he was found guilty of assaulting a policeman outside a Paris nightclub and, in 2014, was suspended by the French club for comments about then manager Laurent Blanc.