Man Utd transfer news: Jose Mourinho will make move for Alex Grimaldo
Manchester United boss wants Benfica star to fill his problem left-back spot
The green light has been given for Jose Mourinho to pursue Benfica left-back Alex Grimaldo, according to Metro.
The paper says the United boss has had his scouts check out the 22-year-old on several occasions this year. The reports received have been so favourable that the Old Trafford board has given Mourinho the go-ahead to make the Portuguese club an offer they can’t refuse.
What sort of offer? Well, Metro reports that Benfica signed Grimaldo from Barcelona for a modest €1.5million (£1.3m) in December 2015 but they now value him at an eye-watering €40m (£36m).
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Whether United would be prepared to meet that asking price for the young defender is a moot point, but Mourinho is known to be on the lookout for a new left-back having allegedly decided that Luke Shaw no longer cuts the mustard in his matchday squad.
Meanwhile in Spain, Real Madrid star Casemiro is apparently also on the radar of Mourinho. The Sunday Express claims that the Special One, still seething from Saturday’s shock 2-1 defeat to Huddersfield, is ready to offer the 25-year-old midfielder “a huge salary to convince him to leave the Bernabeu”.
Taking its cue from the Spanish publication Don Balon, the Express says that Mourinho is so anxious to sign Casemiro that he will offer him the same salary as Paul Pogba. That means the Brazilian playmaker could pocket £290,000 a week at the Red Devils, but according to sources at Old Trafford that’s a small price to pay for a player of Casemiro’s quality.
The Express says that Mourinho is “a long-term admirer of Casemiro” having worked with him during his time in charge of Real Madrid. He believes the South American would bring a touch of magic to Manchester.
It’s reported that Paris Saint-Germain tried to sign him last summer but their advances were rebuffed. The challenge United will face is in persuading Real to part with a player they hold in high regard.
If they fail to prise Casemiro from Madrid, The Sun claims that United will make a bid for Valencia midfielder Carlos Soler. Priced at £30m, the Spain Under-21 star is one of the most exciting young talents in La Liga. The paper says that Soler is seen by as Mourinho as “a long-term contender to play alongside Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic”.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
4 ways to give back this holiday season
The Explainer If your budget is feeling squeezed, remember that money is not the only way you can be generous around the holidays
By Becca Stanek, The Week US Published
-
4 tips for hosting an ecofriendly Thanksgiving
The Week Recommends Coming together for the holidays typically produces a ton of waste, but with proper preparation, you can have an environmentally friendly gathering.
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Jussie Smollet conviction overturned on appeal
Speed Read The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the actor's conviction on charges of staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Why Man United finally lost patience with ten Hag
Talking Point After another loss United sacked ten Hag in hopes of success in the Champion's League
By The Week UK Published
-
Manchester United and Mason Greenwood: duty of care or double standards?
Talking Point The 21-year-old footballer’s possible return has provoked an outpouring of dismay from supporters
By Jamie Timson Published
-
Liverpool 7 Man Utd 0: ‘welcome to Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool 2.0’
feature Anfield’s ‘new front three’ were on fire in the humbling of their bitter rivals
By Mike Starling Published
-
Man Utd win the Carabao Cup: how Erik ten Hag has ‘transformed’ the Red Devils
feature United lifted their first silverware since 2017 after beating Newcastle at Wembley
By Mike Starling Published
-
Jim Ratcliffe: petrochemical billionaire turned Man Utd bidder
Why Everyone’s Talking About The Ineos owner is the first to publicly bid for the 13-time Premier League winners
By Richard Windsor Published
-
Reactions to Cristiano Ronaldo’s ‘explosive’ interview with Piers Morgan
feature Portugal captain feels ‘betrayed’ by Man Utd and believes he’s being forced out of the club
By Mike Starling Published
-
What next for Cristiano Ronaldo? How the relationship with Man Utd turned sour
Under the Radar Portugal star has ‘almost certainly’ played his last game for United as he is dropped for Chelsea clash
By Mike Starling Published
-
Manchester United: does Erik ten Hag have the ‘golden touch’?
feature Prevailing mood at Old Trafford was reminiscent of ‘how it felt during the golden years of Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign’
By The Week Staff Last updated