Manchester United round-up: £40million signing confirmed; defender close to move; Jones set for ban

Add as preferred source on Google

Manchester United have completed a £40 million move for Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic, the club’s official website has confirmed. The Serbian has put pen to paper on a three year deal which will keep him at Old Trafford until 2020, reuniting with Jose Mourinho for the second time in his career.

Matic, who celebrates his 29th birthday on Tuesday, had entered into the final year of his contract at Stamford Bridge and had fallen out of favour after the signing of Tiemoue Bakayoko from Monaco. Now, he will join Ander Herrera at the base of United’s midfield, liberating Paul Pogba in front of him.

He could soon be followed by Paris Saint-Germain defender Serge Aurier. Transfermarketweb claim sources from both France and the United Kingdom have told them that Aurier is ‘getting closer and closer’ to completing his move to the Premier League. It is suggested that the right-back could now make the move across the channel for a fee in the region of 25 million euros (£22.4 million).

However, the deal will be held up for at least a week as Aurier is under travel restrictions. He faces a court hearing on 7th August after assaulting a police officer outside a Paris nightclub, meaning that he cannot travel to Manchester until he is cleared of any crime, as the Express divulge.

In less positive news, Phil Jones has added to Jose Mourinho’s European defensive headache as he has been hit by a two game suspension, say BBC Sport. Eric Bailly is already suspended for the next two games. The news comes as it emerges that Jones was abusive towards an anti-doping official who prevented him from taking photos after Europa League victory.

The centre-back, alongside team-mate Daley Blind and the club, was also fined for his behaviour. That leaves Jose Mourinho with very few options to choose form ahead of the club’s tie against Real Madrid in the European Super Cup and in the first Champions League tie of the season.