Man United Transfer Predicted: £50m Stars Exit, Striker Move Delayed, £38m January Deal

Dec 29, 2016 at 6:07 PM

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Man United Transfer Predicted: £50m Stars Exit, Striker Move Delayed, £38m January Deal

A recent resurgence means that pressure from Old Trafford chiefs has been lifted. An extra present or two under the Christmas tree may even be there now that four wins on the trot have been secured.

Manchester United spent big to land the likes of Paul Pogba, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Eric Bailly in the summer. Even Zlatan Ibrahimovic – who arrived on a free transfer – is not exactly cheap with wages of £250,000 a week.

But their inconsistent form means that Mourinho is likely to splash the cash when the transfer window reopens next month.

And here Express Sport looks at the changes the former Chelsea boss may enforce in January.

What do they need?

Mourinho is set to make a defender his chief wish for the New Year, with Chris Smalling and Eric Bailly recently struggling with injuries.

Bailly is off to the African Cup of Nations next month, meaning United could have to do without him for up to eight games. 

Mourinho has used Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo to good effect in Bailly and Smalling’s absence, though the latter has been let off the hook with rash tackles against Everton and Crystal Palace.

United are short on firepower with their reliance on Zlatan Ibrahimovic obvious given the Swede’s current hot-streak of 10 goals in his last nine games.

But Mourinho is not expected to pursue a forward and could instead wait until the summer to launch a huge bid for Antoine Griezmann.

How much can they spend?

A blank cheque sounds cliche, but United have the money to sign just about any player in world football. 

They broke the bank to land Pogba in the summer – for an eye-watering £89million – and smashed the British transfer record to sign Angel Di Maria for £60m in 2014.

Money talks and Mourinho will know he will have to stump up big if he is to convince European clubs to part with their star assets.

United could also benefit from the sales of several stars, with over £50million worth of talent expected to leave Old Trafford next month.

If not, then the Glazer family should have enough money left in the bank to fund deals.

Who might they sign?

Mourinho wants defenders and top of his wish list is said to be Benfica star Victor Lindelof.

Lindelof has caught the eye with a string of impressive displays, helping Benfica to the top of the Primeira Liga table. 

Reports in Portugal claimed the Sweden international’s agent – Jorge Mendes – jetted in for talks over a £38million transfer.

If Benfica prove tough negotiators then Southampton veteran Jose Fonte could arrive in a cut-price deal.

The defender has been told he can leave St Mary’s in the New Year and the 33-year-old could be an ideal short-term replacement for Bailly given his Premier League experience.

Who could leave?

A New Year represents a new start and several players are set to depart for new challenges next month.

Pangs of regret will no doubt be felt when Memphis Depay eventually goes given the obvious talent the Holland international possesses.

Depay has toiled under Mourinho – just as he did under Louis van Gaal last summer – and is wanted by Ronald Koeman at Everton.

One player that could join Depay at Goodison Park is Morgan Schneiderlin, another Van Gaal signing whose bags will be packed. 

Koeman managed Schneiderlin during their time at Southampton and the Dutchman views him as the perfect player to help turn their faltering season around.

 

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