Following claims that Jose Mourinho was prioritising a defensive addition, AS report that Real Madrid have rejected a £26 million offer for their French central defender Raphael Varane, who Mourinho is a big fan of from his time working with the youngster in Madrid. The 23-year-old has now returned to fitness following an injury costing him a place at the Euros this summer, and Mourinho sees him as the perfect fit.
Varane has all of the characteristics to be the perfect fit for United, young, but with experience, quick, but strong, and it’s clear to see why he would be targeted. The difficulty would be agreeing a deal with the Spanish club, who do not want to sell the player, whose wishes are unclear. Varane is set to play a bigger part in Madrid’s season this year as Pepe continues to age, but may be tempted to play alongside his international teammate Paul Pogba in an exciting new project at Old Trafford.
Despite not being able to discuss his time at the club for another year due to a clause in his contract, rumours have emerged that Louis Van Gaal has claimed he would have rejected such big money moves for the likes of Paul Pogba, and was against them during his time in charge at Old Trafford. The Sun claim that Van Gaal held up the deal as he preferred spending less on younger talents to develop, rather than splash out on stars.
The change in transfer policy this summer from Ed Woodward has been clear, and with United having tracked Pogba since 2013, it is not surprising to hear that the club were considering an offer for him previously. Whilst Van Gaal should be admired for putting his faith in youth, something Jose Mourinho has struggled to achieve, it may have ended up costing the club a tidy sum as Pogba’s superb performances have seen his price and value steadily rise year on year to the point where he became the club’s record signing this summer.
As Juventus search for a replacement for Pogba, Tuttosport claim that they could be targeting one of United’s own, Spanish midfielder Ander Herrera. The 27-year-old, who is yet to be capped by his country, fits the model that Juventus seek of an all round midfielder with good passing ability, and the Italians hope that having negotiated over the Pogba deal, United may be willing to cut them some slack in negotiations for the Spaniard.
Herrera is now beginning his third season as a Red Devil following his big money move from Athletic Bilbao and whilst he has been impressive at times, it remains to be seen how important a role he will play under Jose Mourinho. Mourinho is likely to prefer a more defensive minded midfielder to partner Pogba to allow him more freedom, which may limit Herrera’s chances and make a move seem best for all parties.
Another exit could be Brazilian midfielder Andreas Pereira, as the IB Times claim that Middlesbrough have shown an interest in taking the youngster on loan this season. The player is keen to seek first team football this season after featuring for United in cup competitions last season, and the club are happy to allow that to happen to continue his development. Middlesbrough would be a great destination for the midfielder, and a deal could be completed in the coming days.
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