Red Devils round-up: Chelsea midfielder linked with move; club hero could return

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With the season over and the summer window looming Premier League clubs will start to turn their attention to the transfer market, with a view to strengthening their respective sides ahead of the 2015/16 Premier League campaign. At The Boot Room, we are preparing to bring you all of the best opinion and analysis as the deals roll in.

The first talking point in Tuesday’s Manchester United transfer round-up is one that will no doubt rattle a few cages. Indeed, according to the Daily Mail, former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho will target his former midfielder Nemanja Matic in a deal that would cost the club over £25million.

Despite signing Morgan Schneiderlin during the previous summer window, the Red Devils are still lacking a major leader in the centre of the park – a role Matic would undoubtedly be a contender to fulfil. The Serbian international has proven to be a tough tackler and a capable reader of the game during his time at Stamford Bridge.

There is no doubt Matic is an excellent player. After all, he was key to the Blues’ title winning campaign two seasons ago, during which they fell to just two league defeats under Jose Mourinho. However, his performances under the former Chelsea manager soon dipped, as did his relationship with the Portuguese head coach – although this has since been denied.

After a Premier League Team of the Year appearance the season before, he proved vacant for most of the current campaign as the club finished in the bottom half of the table. What is more, the former Benfica midfielder found himself at the centre of the drama surrounding Mourinho’s final weeks of his second spell at Stamford Bridge.

Matic hardly set the world alight for Chelsea this term, but the 27-year-old remains one of the best defensive midfielders in the world. He would be an excellent signing for Manchester United, but few could disagree with the notion that this deal is almost definitely not going to happen.

The same report suggests the potential Red Devils manager will also target Everton youngster John Stones, who will cost around £45 million. And, if unsuccessful in their attempts to sign the England international, the Portuguese boss has his sights set on talented Real Madrid centre-back Raphael Varane.

In other news, former-Manchester United defender Gary Neville and Brian Kidd – former assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson – could return as part of Jose Mourinho’s coaching staff, if reports by The Sun are to be believed.

The Portuguese manager has a great deal of respect for England coach, Neville, who was recently sacked by Spanish outfit Valencia. He believes the former club captain could play a vital part in restoring the style of play that became so popular under Sir Alex Ferguson.

Indeed, Mourinho believes it is important some of his assistants understand the history and tradition of the club and Kidd, who is currently with Manchester City, is viewed as a symbol of the ‘traditional’ United. It is believed he can help nurture the younger players, which will be news to the ears of the Old Trafford faithful.

With Mourinho’s arrival comes the assumption that he will follow his usual philosophy of favouring new signings over giving youth the opportunity to impress. Considering the abundance of young talent that has been on shown at the club this season, fans will be hoping he is ready to change his managerial policies.

What do you make of today’s transfer round-up? Is Chelsea’s Nemanja Matic a realistic target for the Red Devils? Would he improve the current side? How would you feel about a return to Old Trafford for Gary Neville and Brian Kidd?

Featured image: Some rights reserved by Aleksandr Osipov