Man Utd transfer news: Willian tops Jose Mourinho’s shopping list
David de Gea is ‘questioning his options’ after United’s Champions League exit
Jose Mourinho has set his sights on Willian, reports The Sun, with the paper claiming it has it on good authority that the Manchester United manager “wants to land the Chelsea star this summer”.
Tuesday night’s shockingly supine exit from the Champions League at the hands of Sevilla has convinced Mourinho that he needs to take a seriously sharp axe to his squad at the end of the season, to clear the way for some fresh and more ferocious blood.
Top of his shopping list is Willian, who has been one of Chelsea’s few reliable performers this season. The Brazilian winger was apparently courted by Mourinho last summer but he was “told there was no chance of him leaving”.
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.
Nonetheless, he intends to make another play for the 29-year-old in a couple of months, according to an Old Trafford source.
“Jose is still interested,” the whistleblower told the Sun. “The club had a sniff last year but Matic was the only possibility. He does not have long left on his contract. The boss is a huge fan of his, he is always pull of praise.”
But is Willian simply using the rumour mill to squeeze a bigger and better pay packet from the Blues? The Sun reports that he “wants to sit down with Chelsea at the end of the season for talks over a new contract”, and the prospect of the Blues losing Willian to an arch rival will surely only strengthen his bargaining position.
If, however, Chelsea refuse to cave in to his wage demands it’s expected they will slap a £60m price tag around his neck.
Meanwhile the Metro claims that losing to Sevilla may have been the last straw for David de Gea.
Although United have been in preliminary talks in recent months with the gloveman over a new deal Tuesday’s Champions League exit “has left the Spaniard questioning his options”.
Top of those of options is a move to Real Madrid, a club who have made no secret of their wish to sign the Spaniard.
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
-
How Harris and Trump differ on education
The Explainer Trump wants to disband the Department of Education. Harris wants to boost teacher pay.
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
How to minimize capital gains tax on investments
The Explainer It can take a chunk out of your profits
By Becca Stanek, The Week US Published
-
Crossword: November 4, 2024
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Mason Greenwood: footballer arrested on suspicion of rape and assault
Speed Read Man Utd confirm the striker will not train or play until further notice
By The Week Staff Published
-
Handball: swapping bikini bottoms for tight pants
Speed Read Women competitors will be required to ‘wear short tight pants with a close fit’
By The Week Staff Published
-
Cristiano Ronaldo’s second coming
Speed Read Last week, Manchester United re-signed the forward on a two-year deal thought to be worth more than £400,000 a week
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Bank holidays and boycotts: are MPs trying to jinx England?
Speed Read Declaring a bank holiday would be ‘tempting fate’, says Boris Johnson
By The Week Staff Published
-
Weightlifting: Olympic Games set for transgender first
Speed Read New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard will make history at Tokyo 2020
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sport shorts: Champions League expansion plan to be agreed
Speed Read News and reactions from the world of sport, featuring Joachim Low and the Lions women’s team
By Mike Starling Published
-
Sport shorts: Sturgeon slams Rangers fans over title celebrations
Speed Read News and reactions from the world of sport, featuring Keely Hodgkinson and Bryson DeChambeau
By Mike Starling Published
-
Sport shorts: Klopp’s unwanted record as Liverpool lose again at Anfield
Speed Read News and reactions from the world of sport, featuring Tiger Woods and Tom Brady
By Mike Starling Published