He has suggested not to make a move for Harry Maguire
Manchester United are looking to bolster their squad in the transfer window after an underwhelming campaign last season, not winning a single silverware. They finished second in the Premier League, 19 points behind Manchester City.
The Red Devils are expected to be busy in the summer transfer window and they have already completed three signings, teenage full-back Diogo Dalot has signed from Porto, while a £52.5 million fee has been agreed with Shakhtar Donetsk for Brazil international Fred and Lee Grant from Stoke City.
Despite having the most clean sheets and the second best defensive record in the Premier League last term, Jose Mourinho was not happy as he had to rely on auxiliary full-backs and failed to settle on a consistent central defensive axis due to injuries and inconsistency.
The Portuguese manager is targeting a top class centre-back this summer despite spending big on defenders in the past two years. He is even willing to delay a move for a left-back and stick with Ashley Young and Luke Shaw as their two options this season.
The Premier League giants have been heavily linked with a move for Tottenham ace Toby Alderweireld and Leicester City defender.
United legend Rio Ferdinand has urged the club to move for Alderweireld over Maguire as the Belgium International suits the club style more.
He told the Mirror: “Harry Maguire did great at the World Cup, but of the players potentially available he would not be my first choice. I would go for Alderweireld, all day long, because he is suited to the way United play.
“But it will take more than a quality defender to galvanise them, and this is where you have to respect Mourinho’s track record and his history of winning trophies.
“Do I think he will still be manager of Manchester United this time next year? Put it this way: I hope so, because if he is still there, it means they have been successful and won something.
“I wouldn’t write him off. He has won 20 trophies as a manager.
“He knows how to galvanise teams by instilling a siege mentality sometimes and he is going to need all his dark arts to create that atmosphere of ‘Manchester United against the world’ to make them formidable again.
“But it’s not just new signings that is going to be the catalyst. It’s the manager who sets the tone, and he’s got a few big issues to address.”
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