Manchester United Transfer Watch
Another week of rumours linking Manchester United with every name under the sun. It wouldn’t be much of a surprise if Jose Mourinho was becoming impatient at the speed in which the club is moving on transfers.
The Sportsman have it on good authority that Mourinho wants business done by 10th July. That doesn’t necessarily mean every target wrapped up and confirmed, but the sagas that include players such as Alvaro Morata are dragging out, so much that the Portuguese manager is seemingly beginning to sweat under the collar.
Last week, I looked at five emerging transfer rumours regarding United. Seven days on, we investigate more rumours and list other players who are being thrown into the mix:
Marten De Roon (Middlesborough)
Wednesday, June 28, a bonkers rumour from Italian website Tutto Mercato Web attracted lots of attention, as it was reported that United are chasing Dutch midfielder De Roon.
De Roon has only been at Middlesborough for a year, joining the Premier League club from Atalanta, and when the Riverside outfit played United last season, Mourinho described the 26-year-old as phenomenal.
He scored five times in 35 competitive games for Middlesborough.
Status: Early days. As things stand, a switch to United is unlikely with a return to Atalanta on the cards.
Radja Nainggolan (Roma)
Manchester United are willing to spend £40million on Radja Nainggolan, according to Gazetta dello Sport.
The Belgium international has a contract with Roma until 2020, and the offer of an extension has been made. Reports suggest Nainggolan is reluctant to sign that extension due to interest from United.
Playing up to reports, the 29-year-old posted a photograph on Instagram on Monday with the caption “Thinking about what to do.”
Asked about United’s reported interest earlier this month, Nainggolan said: “We’ll see. I am going on holiday and then we will talk about it.”
Inter Milan are also believed to be interested.
Status: 45% likely to happen.
Matteo Darmian (Interest from Juventus and Inter Milan)
Italian full-back Darmian has picked up interest from Serie A big shots all summer. Juventus, who no longer have Dani Alves, see the former Torino man as a replacement, while Inter are doing their best to strengthen despite fears of FFP punishment.
However, according to sources close to The Sportsman, Mourinho hopes Darmian will remain at Old Trafford next season. The United manager sees the 27-year-old as a valuable and versatile member of his squad.
While he didn’t cement a spot in the starting eleven last season, Darmian enjoyed a productive run towards the end of the campaign, starring in the club’s Europa League triumph over Ajax in May.
Status: More will be known when Darmian and Mourinho meet this week. For now, the Italian’s future is at the crossroads.
James Rodriguez (Real Madrid)
It’s the one that won’t go away. According to Diario Gol, James Rodriguez has decided that United are the only team he wants to join.
This story holds a strong resemblance to the Nickolas Gaitan saga which involved United for years, yet never developed into anything more than a rumour. Mourinho has never been keen to bring Rodriquez to Old Trafford despite being repeatedly linked with the Colombian ace.
The Colombian, who made 33 appearances for Real Madrid last season, did not make the Champions League final squad for Zinedine Zidane’s side.
Reports suggest he has told Florentino Perez that he will stay put if he’s not allowed to talk with United.
Status: Not likely.
Fabinho (Monaco)
The Monaco midfielder has become the Paul Pogba of this transfer window with United fans obsessively requesting updates across social media. The Sun reckons United are facing the prospect of missing out on signing Fabinho after PSG launched a £42m bid.
The 23-year-old defensive midfielder can also play right-back, and Mourinho has been a long-term admirer of the Brazilian, who Louis van Gaal previously listed as a target for the Old Trafford club.
Now, however, it looks as though the Ligue 1 giants are in pole position to sign Fabinho, meaning Mourinho will have to look elsewhere.
Status: It has gone quiet on the United front, therefore, looking more unlikely than it did last week. Ed Woodward will need to hurry up if the club are serious about their interest.
