Chelsea
Man Utd Looking To Hijack Chelsea After Mourinho Holds Talks With £36m Target
Jose Mourinho has been in regular contract with Barcelona full-back Serge Roberto to discuss a potential move to Manchester United this summer
Managers are now pressing ahead with their plans for the summer transfer window so we’ll bring you all the latest news and gossip from around the globe. Today, Man Utd are linked with Serge Roberto….
Jose Mourinho has been in regular contract with Barcelona full-back Serge Roberto to discuss a potential move to Manchester United this summer, according to a report in the Express.
Roberto has been with Barca his entire career having graduated from their famous La Masia youth academy and he’s made over 150 appearances since breaking in to the first team set-up in 2013.
The 25-year-old started out as a defensive midfielder but he’s since developed in to a right-back and he was the La Liga giants established full-back last season having made 47 appearances in all competitions.
However, Roberto’s future at the Nou Camp is now in doubt following the arrival of Nelson Semedo from Benfica as the Portuguese international is expected to be named as new boss Ernesto Valverde’s first choice right-back this season.
It’s led to speculation that Roberto will be on the move as he looks for regular football to boost his chances of making the Spain squad for next summer’s World Cup finals in Russia.
A move to the Premier League could be on the cards as Italian outlet Calciomercato reported last week that Chelsea are ready to meet Roberto’s £36m buyout clause this summer.
Antonio Conte is looking to further strengthen his squad ahead of Chelsea’s return to the Champions League and he’s the market for an attacking right-back to offer competition for Victor Moses with Roberto seemingly on his radar.
However, it seems Chelsea could now face stiff competition from Man Utd as the Express are citing a report from Diario Gol that claims Mourinho has been in regular contact with Roberto about a move to Old Trafford.
Mourinho recently wrapped-up his third signing of the summer following the arrival of Nemanja Matic but he knows he needs to add more depth to his squad if they are to compete on all fronts this season.
Roberto would offer a long-term replacement for Antonio Valencia in the right-back berth while he’ll also provide another option in the middle of the park so he’d be an excellent addition if they could get a deal agreed.
However, the Express’s report says the Spanish international has made it clear to Mourinho that although he’s open to the idea of joining United he wants guarantees that he’ll be a first team regular.
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We’ll have to wait and see how things develop as no doubt Roberto has made a similar demand to Chelsea but I think he’d be a superb signing for either of the two English clubs being linked with his signature.
