United Aim To Secure Two More Signings This Summer, According To Reports
Reuters / Phil Noble
Manchester United are hoping to bring in two more players before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.
According to reports in Manchester Evening News, United boss Jose Mourinho is determined to see at least one more player added to his squad, and is apparently still keen on signing Inter Milan’s Ivan Perisic.
Every summer, United appear to be involved in a transfer saga that usually lasts up to the deadline day, irrespective of whether the player ends up making the move to Old Trafford or not.
For example, the Sergio Ramos saga, when he was said to be inches away from signing for the club – then managed by Louis van Gaal – but at the end of the summer, decided to sign a new contract with Real Madrid.
Then there was last summer, when the Red Devils were said to be going for a world record deal for Paul Pogba. At the time, it seemed more unlikely than the Ramos move, but the move did in fact go through.
Ivan Perisic has been the saga of this summer for United, and while he may not be as big a player as Ramos or Pogba, United are struggling to finalize a move for him.
Inter Milan have remained stubborn throughout negotiations, demanding that United comply to their £44 million valuation (even though the Premier League giants offered just £4 million less in a £40 million bid). Moreover, they have also asked for Anthony Martial to be included in the deal on a season-long loan.
Negotiations between the two clubs have apparently been put off ever since Perisic was hastily included in Inter’s squad that traveled to China for their pre-season tour. However, Mourinho is determined to kick things off again, and try harder to convince the Nerazzurri to sell.
It is fair to say that whether or not the transfer goes through after all is said and done, this whole situation has been a major waste of time for the Europa League winners, and a lot more time could have been spent on trying to procure other targets had the Perisic deal been wrapped up earlier.
United even decided to attempt to sign Gareth Bale, but ended their interest for this summer after the Super Cup defeat.
M.E.N have also reported that the Old Trafford hierarchy are now looking out for a potential fifth signing (Perisic being the fourth). It is believed that they are on the look out for a full-back, preferably a left-sided one.
Luke Shaw and Ashley Young’s long-term injuries have left a hole at left-back, and while Daley Blind and Matteo Darmian have done an admirable job of filling in the position in the English pair’s absence, Mourinho is eager to have a player who is naturally suited to the position and will not have to take time and adapt to it.
Serge Aurier and Danny Rose are two full-backs who have been tipped as potential favourites to sign for the club, but United have not made a move for either of them. Timothy Fosu-Mensah is also on the brink of sealing a season-long loan move to Crystal Palace.
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