Mourinho Given The Green Signal To Complete A £40m Signing In January

Jose Mourinho has finally received the go-ahead to sign a defender come January.

Manchester United‘s backline has been abysmal since the start of the season, mainly due to the club’s failure to bring in defensive reinforcements in the 2018 summer transfer window.

Jose Mourinho had identified several centre-backs as important targets, but the club hierarchy failed to bring in each and every one of those players, due to which the team has heavily suffered on the pitch.

But now, with the struggles at the back clearly evident, Ed Woodward seems to have finally agreed to meet his manager’s needs once the transfer window reopens.

According to The Sun, Mourinho, along with his agent Jorge Mendes, met with Ed Woodward last week to discuss the transfer plans for the upcoming winter transfer window.

In that meeting, the executive vice chairman finally agreed on splashing reasonable cash and prioritising the signing of a centre-back in January.

And now that he has received the green signal, Jose is all set to swoop in for Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld, who he is confident of signing for around £40m.

Thanks to his experience in England, the Belgian international is expected to aid United in securing a top 4 finish in the Premier League as well as progress as far as possible in the Champions League knockout stages.

However, the report did add that Mourinho’s number 1 defensive priority, Napoli star Kalidou Koulibaly, will not be pursued, as the Red Devils have deemed the £90m-rated Senegalese as too expensive.

Further, this approval to sign a centre-back is understood to be a short-term solution rather than a show of faith in Mourinho, whose future at Manchester United remains far from certain.