Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is making huge moves in the summer transfer window. Having signed Victor Lindelof from Benfica last week, the Portuguese tactician is now lining up a deal for Borussia Dortmund defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos, according to reports.
Mourinho had a fair share of injuries to his defenders which had hampered their season midway. He is keen to add Sokratis to his roster.
Manchester United defenders Chris Smalling and Phil Jones were publicly criticized for their injury records last season. Meanwhile, Marcos Rojo will not be available for the starting weeks of next season. This leaves the club with only new signing Victor Lindelof who is likely to be paired with Eric Bailly in the upcoming season.
With Eric Bailly also failing to keep injury free all throughout the season, Mourinho feels Sokratis would be an ideal fit in his squad.
According to German Bild, Manchester United are monitoring the Greek defender who is in spectacular form for Dortmund in the recently concluded season.
The 29-year old had been a leader in the defense for Dortmund after the departure of Mats Hummels to Bayern Munich last summer. He has drawn interest from numerous Premier League clubs which include Arsenal and Chelsea.
Both the London clubs have sent scouts to watch him during Dortmund’s DFB Pokal final last month. Sokratis has the ideal attributes to be successful in the Premier League which is making all the three clubs interested in signing him this summer.
But the Red Devils are yet to make an official bid for the Greek international as they eye a bargain deal with the player having only two years left in his contract with the German club.
Sokratis made 41 appearances for Dortmund last summer and have been at the heart of their defense. However, it still remains to be seen if the German club are ready to let their star leave.