World Cup Winner A Target As Man Utd Boss Plots £100m Double January Swoop

The transfer window is closed but managers are still planning ahead for January and next summer so we’ll bring you all the latest gossip. Today, Man Utd are ready to back Jose Mourinho this winter…

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho is hoping to buy a centre-back and a striker after being handed up to £100m to spend during the January transfer window, according to the Guardian.

Mourinho endured a frustrating summer as he was desperate to bring in another top class central defender but the club failed to land any of his prime transfer targets so the Portuguese boss had to make-do with midfielder Fred and right-back Diogo Dalot as his only significant additions to the squad.

The lack of activity seems to have cost United as they have made one of their worst starts to a Premier League season and currently sit eighth in the table – nine points adrift of leaders Liverpool after just ten games.

Defence has been a real issue as United have conceded 17 goals in their 10 matches so far, which is 13 more than Liverpool and three more than 19th-placed Newcastle United. In fact, the Red Devils have the fifth-worst defensive record in the league which will be a huge concern for Mourinho.

However, the Guardian claim that United bosses are ready to back their manager this winter with up to £100m being made available for transfers and Mourinho is targetting a centre-back as well as a new striker.

The newspaper suggests that United could renew their interest in Raphael Varane after Mourinho made him a prime target in the summer with the Manchester giants showing a willingness to spend big on the World Cup winner but Real Madrid were reluctant to sell at that time.

The Guardian says Leicester City’s Harry Maguire and Bayern Munich’s Jérôme Boateng were two other targets for Mourinho but United bosses refused to purse either deal as they didn’t believe they were better than what they’ve currently got in the squad.

It remains to be seen whether that view has changed following United’s turbulent start to the season but it’s difficult to see how Maguire or Boateng aren’t upgrades on the likes of Phil Jones or Chris Smalling.

Another forward also appears to be on the agenda as United have been overly reliant on Romelu Lukaku up front this season and the Belgian international has struggled of late having failed to find the net in his last eight outings for his club.

Alexis Sanchez has been a huge disappointment since arriving from Arsenal back in January while Marcus Rashford has got just one goal to his name so far this season so Mourinho knows he needs to add more firepower to his squad.

However, finding a top striker in the winter market will be easier said than done and value is hard to come by in January so it remains to be seen if United will be successful in landing any of their targets.