Jose Mourinho Looking To Sign Three Or Four Players For Next Season

Reuters

With Manchester United in the Champions League for next season, Jose Mourinho is likely to revamp his current squad. However, the Portuguese is said to be limiting the summer spending to three or four key signings instead of the futile expenditure the club has done in the past couple of years.

As reported by BBC, Jose Mourinho said that United’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has had his list of targets “for more than two months”.

“Ed Woodward has my list. Now it’s up to him and the owners,” the United boss stated after his side beat Ajax to clinch the Europa League title for the first time on Wednesday.

Mourinho is set to bolster his attacking and defensive line-up in order to challenge for the Premier League title next season. The Red Devils have been regularly linked with Atletico Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann and Burnley centre-back Michael Keane.

Griezmann, who has a £100 million release clause in his contract, commented on his transfer situation earlier this week, saying that his chances of joining the Premier League giants were “6 out of 10”.

Also, a major deal-breaker barrier was removed by United, after they secured a return to Champions League football by going straight into the group stages after their victory over Ajax in Stockholm.

The French striker fits the Red Devils’ squad quite perfectly with his pace and trickery – skills that United currently lack. But if the move comes to a dead end, Torino forward Andrea Belotti, who has scored 25 goals in Serie A this season, is another option that United have eyes on.

Burnley defender Michael Keane is the next target that United would like to bring back, after the 24-year-old moved to Turf Moor in January 2015. Also, Mourinho is known to be eager to bring the former United man back to Old Trafford next season, viewing predecessor Louis van Gaal’s decision to sell the centre-back for £2m as a mistake.

Once again joining Europe’s elite competition means United have avoided the potential loss of £50 million in sponsorship income and prize money.

However, as reported by one senior club source, the forthcoming summer transfer window is likely to be “crazy”, given the increased spending power within the Premier League as a result of the new £8.3 billion TV deal.

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Wayne Rooney Close To Making A Decision About His Future

Reuters

Manchester United star Wayne Rooney may have won his final silverware with the club after defeating Ajax in the Europa League final, as the Red Devils’ captain claims to be very close to an Old Trafford departure.

Rooney confirmed that there are several offers on the table, but he also clearly mentioned that he will not play for any other English club.

The 31-year-old became United’s record goalscorer after breaking Sir Bobby Charlton’s record this season, but despite this, the Englishman has been regularly linked with a move away from the Theatre of Dreams.

With just 26 starts in all competitions, and making an appearance as an 89th-minute substitute in the Europa League, Rooney’s 13-year career at Manchester United seems to be drawing to a close.

According to Daily Mail, the England international has revealed that he is close to making a decision over his future, and has also confirmed that he has received a number of offers. The striker also claimed that he has ‘more or less’ decided on his next move, and will be making a final decision in the next couple of weeks.

The Englishman has been linked with a move to China, and also to his boyhood club Everton, but United boss Jose Mourinho has also expressed his desire of hanging on to the club’s top-scorer.

Speaking of his future, Rooney revealed: “There’s lots of offers on the table, both in England and abroad, and really that’s what I have to decide on.

And when asked how he would work out the decision, the decorated forward commented: “No, I know. As the manager said before, he wants me to stay, but I just have to make a decision in terms of a football decision, and that’s what I’ll do. I’ll do that the next few weeks with my family while I’m away.

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Man City Release Four Stars: Sagna, Clichy, Navas, And Caballero’s Exits Confirmed

Reuters

Manchester City have let go of four of their players, in the form of goalkeeper Willy Caballero, winger Jesus Navas, and full-backs Gael Clichy and Bacary Sagna, as Pep Guardiola looks to reshape his squad for next season. All the four high profile players will leave the Etihad at the end of their contracts with City.

Sagna had joined City in July 2014 from Arsenal, and in his three seasons at the Etihad, the Frenchman made 85 appearances across all competitions, including more than 50 starts in the Premier League. However, the defender only started 14 Premier League games this season under Guardiola.

As per club’s official website, Sagna said: “It has been a privilege to play for this football club. I have enjoyed every moment of my City career and will look back on my time at City fondly. I would like to thank the staff, players and fans for making my three years so memorable.”

Another exit which was confirmed by the club was that of goalkeeper, Willy Caballero. The Argentine had joined the Citizens from Malaga in July 2014, and made a total of 48 appearances for the club during his time at the Etihad. Caballero’s 27 appearances came this season under Pep Guardiola, including two UEFA Champions League matches against Barcelona and Monaco.

“It’s been a privilege to play for Manchester City,” Caballero told the club’s website. “From the first day I arrived, everyone at the Club has made me feel welcome and I will always be grateful to them. To win the League Cup in such dramatic circumstances was special and it’s a day I will never forget.”

Having spent six years with Manchester City, full-back Gael Clichy would also be departing the club at the end of season. He joined the club in 2011, and has since won two Premier League titles and two League Cups with City.  The Frenchman has also made more than 200 appearances for Citizens.

According to City’s official page, Clichy said: “It’s been a special six years for me at City. To win four major trophies and help establish the Club as one of the top teams in English football has been an incredible journey that I’m proud to have been a part of. It’s amazing to see where the Club is today and I am sure there is plenty more success to come.”

Jesus Navas, who moved to Etihad in the summer of 2013 from La Liga side Sevilla, is set to leave the club as well. The winger has made 77 league starts for the club, along with 46 appearances from the bench. He has also made more than 50 appearances in all other competitions, and has shown his versatility this term by being deployed at right-back by Pep Guardiola.

City’s director of football, Txiki Begiristain, commented on Navas’s time at the club by stating: “Working with Jesus has been a pleasure.

“His hard work, dedication, professionalism and desire to win have been apparent every single day. He showed his versatility numerous times this season, operating at full-back and doing so with distinction. I wish him all the very best with his next move.”

Along with these four players whose departures were made official on Thursday, Pablo Zabaleta is also set to depart from the club, as confirmed by City two weeks ago.

Yaya Toure, 34, has not yet been offered a new contract, but the veteran midfielder is hanging around to see whether he would be offered fresh terms or not.

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Matteo Darmian Secures Future After United’s Europa League Final Win

Reuters

Manchester United claimed their third trophy of the season as they overcame Ajax to win the Europa League final in Stockholm, and Matteo Darmian had an extra cause to celebrate the European glory.

Paul Pogba’s deflected shot that put the Red Devils ahead in the 18th minute, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s goal in the second half sealed the silverware for the English club, making them the 5th team in history to claim the full quota of European trophies. The illustrious list includes the likes of Ajax, Juventus, and Bayern Munich.

However, according to Manchester Evening News, Jose Mourinho didn’t hold back any criticism that he had for his players, and Matteo Darmian was the first name to face Portuguese’s telling-off after the Italian had edged too far forward for his manager’s liking.

Nonetheless, the 27-year-old’s brilliant display of basic, old-school defending frustrated Ajax. Darmian, who was bought primarily for his attacking instinct, had been neutered in the attacking department mainly due to Antonio Valencia’s inclusion in United’s defence, as per Mourinho’s statement in January.

But instead, the Italy international seems to have developed into a reliable defender, overcoming his early season’s exclusion to ensure he remains at Old Trafford.

With victory over the Dutch side, United have now become the 5th English team to qualify for next season’s Champions League, and will go straight into the group stages.

The club finished sixth in the Premier League this year, and will hope to increase the titles in their trophy cabinet under the Portuguese tactician, by winning more silverware both domestically and in Europe next season.

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Rashford And Lingard Practise Celebration Routine Before Europa League Final

Reuters

The Europa League Final is arguably Manchester United’s biggest match of the 2016-17 season, and the one on which the fate of their next season also depends. The Stockholm silverware clash is United’s only hope of qualifying for next season’s Champions League, and as per the reports, landing Antoine Griezmann as well.

However, the Red Devils’ duo Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard seem to be in a confident mood ahead of their side’s Europa League Final against Ajax. The England pair appeared totally relaxed and confident in the final hours building up to kick-off.

With both expected to be in Jose Mourinho’s playing XI at the Friends Arena, possibly alongside Henrikh Mkhitaryan against the Eredivisie runner-ups, Rashford and Lingard were seen practicing a routine should one of them score in the all-important finale.

Ahead of the clash, Lingard said: “We’ve come a long way and we’ve been all around the world playing different teams. But we’ve come out with the wins and we’ve ended up in the final which is massive.

“The lads know what is at stake – any cup final is massive, but especially in this competition it can get us into the Champions League which is where we belong.”

The Europa League title is the only silverware that still eludes Manchester United’s trophy cabinet, and Jose Mourinho’s men are all set to battle it out in order to bring home the European glory.

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Paris Saint-Germain Join The Race To Sign Nelson Semedo

Reuters

Paris Saint-Germain have joined the race to sign Benfica right-back Nelson Semedo, and the Ligue 1 runners-up seem to have already made contact with the defender.

According to O Jogo, Benfica’s clash with V. Guimarães may have been the farewell to Nélson Semedo. Benfica, who won their 4th consecutive and 36th Primeira Liga title this season, are said to be already surrounded by top European clubs in order to swoop their highly rated right-back.

Semedo, who is also a target for Manchester City, is now on PSG’s list of reinforcements for 2017/18 as well. The Ligue 1 side, who saw a series of four consecutive titles interrupted this year by Monaco, have already begun contact with the Portugal international.

Benfica’s President Luis Filipe Vieira has reportedly put a price tag of  €40 million on the 23-year-old, and according to the Portuguese newspaper, Paris Saint-Germain are prepared to invest millions in order to reshape their squad.

One of PSG’s main reasons for interest in Nélson Semedo is because of manager Unai Emery, as the PSG boss has been regarded as a great admirer of the defender.

Bayern Munich, Inter, Barcelona, Arsenal, and Manchester United have also been reportedly linked to the Portuguese.

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Burnley Have A Good Chance Of Holding On To Michael Keane, Claims Sean Dyche

Reuters

Burnley boss Sean Dyche has made it clear that the club is in a good position regarding Michael Keane’s future.

According to Sky Sports, Keane is reportedly a target for a number of Premier League clubs. However, Dyche has insisted that the centre-back will not leave the club unless a suitable offer is received that matches the club’s valuation of the player.

The Clarets boss said: “All parties are in the loop. I am, he is, the agent is, his family are, our club are. One thing we know is we are in a strong position. He’s got one year left on his contract. If nothing happens that is suitable for us then the situation will go on, and he’ll carry on playing. We’ll wait and see what the summer brings.”

The 24-year-old is evaluated to be worth £25 million, and has been linked with a return to Old Trafford for quite some time. However, speaking to Weekend Sports Breakfast, club chairman Mike Garlick clearly stated that no offers had been formally received regarding Keane.

Garlick said: “All we hear at the moment is lots of talk and noise in the media about different clubs. No one has formally approached us, so he’s a Burnley player – and will continue to be so.”

Dyche has also admitted that the summer transfer window may turn out to be a difficult one for Burnley, but they are focused to begin their research earlier and pursue every avenue in an attempt to improve.

“We started six months ago. We’re learning. We’re looking at what we can do next, how can we improve it, how can we stick to what we do, roughly, but mould it and add to it,” Dyche claimed.

“When you’re not the market leaders, you have to try and keep every line of communication open, take every bit of information seriously – even the bits that get thrown at you from left field. I’ll still be checking my phone. When I’m here it’s on all day. When I’m on holiday I might be able to park it and it’s on in the morning or the evening.

“Recruitment is a massive thing. It looks like it’s going to be a tough market. It was last year. It’s not about replacing people, it’s about adding competition. You want fresh faces and to keep the competition building.”

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Mourinho To Pursue Juventus Star After Signing James Rodriguez

Reuters

Jose Mourinho is set to reshape his side for next season, and with James Rodriguez deal already in the sack, the Portuguese is now on the lookout for his next potential signing.

Don Balon has claimed that the Manchester United manager’s next goal is to sign the Argentine striker, Paulo Dybala. Mourinho is determined to make a major statement this summer by bringing both Rodriguez and Dybala to Old Trafford.

The Spanish weekly sports magazine also claimed that the Portuguese tactician wants a team full of elite players next season, as United continue with their project to reinforce themselves with stars, and once again establish their dominance over European football.

Dybala has been in phenomenal form this season, and the Argentine has wooed Mourinho, who is convinced that whoever gets the Juventus player will dominate football in the coming years, using his skills and game play. The report has proclaimed that the young striker is Mourinho’s next big ‘obsession’ after James Rodriguez.

The 23-year-old has netted 28 Serie A goals for the Old Lady since his arrival in 2015, and is one of world football’s brightest rising talents.

Dybala is said to be a priority signing for United, and the Red Devils are expected to go all out for the forward. However, they are presumed to face some fierce competition in order to secure his signature.

Nonetheless, Juventus would also try to keep Dybala, by doing whatever it takes to resist any attempts from the interested parties to lure the Argentine away.

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Chelsea Ace Set To Reunite With Former Boss

Reuters

Jose Mourinho is looking for a £35 million-worth reunion with his old Chelsea player Nemanja Matic.

The Portuguese is reportedly keen to bring the midfielder on board at Manchester United and has also talked to the club in order to make an offer for the Chelsea star.

Mourinho had brought Matic back to Stamford Bridge in 2014 from Benfica in his second spell with the Blues, after the midfielder had left Chelsea in 2011. And now, the Special One seems determined to sign the midfield man yet again this summer.

The Serbian has been a regular for Antonio Conte this season, having started 30 league games and lifted the Premier League title for the second time in a span of 3 years.

According to The Sun, Mourinho is after two central midfielders this summer, with Chelsea’s Nemanja Matic and Tottenham’s Eric Dier being the top targets. However, with Dier’s deal virtually impossible to negotiate with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, United boss has set his sights on bringing Matic to Old Trafford this summer instead.

Chelsea are hoping to sign Monaco midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko, and with Cesc Fabregas returning to Conte’s line-up, this Matic deal looks highly possible for the Red Devils.

The 28-year-old still has two years left on his current contract, and with a new deal not having announced by the Blues, Mourinho is eyeing Matic as a long-term replacement for Michael Carrick, who has been a key performer, but turns 36 this summer.

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Manchester Clubs Eye Benfica Keeper Ederson

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With the season drawing to a close, the Manchester clubs are out in the transfer market in search for a new goalkeeper. Both Manchester United and Manchester City seem to be preparing to fill a vacancy in their goal saving department, with their shot-stoppers likely to leave this summer.

According to Mirror, the English heavyweights are keeping tabs on Benfica stopper, Ederson, as United prepare for the scenario where David De Gea is said to leave Old Trafford for a big-money move to Real Madrid this summer.

Along with the Red Devils, their noisy neighbours, Manchester City, have also shortlisted the Brazilian for a potential move to the Etihad. The Citizens are out to get a new keeper with doubts over their current number 1 Claudio Bravo.

Ederson, who has enjoyed a highly impressive season with Benfica, is a hot target for both Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola, who are expected to go head-to-head for the 23-year-old’s signature.

The Brazilian was Benfica’s first-choice goalkeeper last year, and also has started 27 of the 33 Primeira Liga fixtures this season.

United are also eyeing Atletico Madrid’s Jan Oblak as a potential replacement for De Gea. Oblak’s value is estimated to be in excess of £20 million, even though the Slovenian has a buyout clause that amounts to nearly twice that.

However, Red Devils’ second choice goalkeeper, Sergio Romero, is also believed to be pushing to fill De Gea’s shoes and be the primary man between the sticks at the Theatre of Dreams, after his remarkable run in the Europa League.

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