Manchester United transfer news: Griezmann, Sanchez, Ozil and Pulisic all linked
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is keen to bolster his offensive options in the January transfer market but there are few obvious transfer targets available for the Red Devils at least until the end of the season.
Nevertheless, that certainly hasn’t stopped the rumour mill from churning out endless rumours and transfer stories. We round-up the biggest stories associated with Mourinho’s side over the past week.
‘United rival Manchester City for Alexis Sanchez’
After gazumping Chelsea for the signature of Romelu Lukaku in the summer, Jose Mourinho is now trying to do the same with Manchester City for wantaway Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez.
A reunion with Pep Guardiola has seemed a foregone conclusion ever since the summer and only appeared a matter of when, rather than if, since the January transfer window opened.
Guardiola’s side are unwilling to match Arsenal’s £35m valuation this month when they know they can sign Sanchez for nothing in the summer, but City’s stance has opened the door for United to make a sensational move.
According to The Guardian, United have tabled a £25m bid for the 29-year-old, which is more than City’s current £20m offer, and are even willing to send Henrikh Mkhitaryan the other way.
Despite United’s incredible offer, City remain confident in signing Sanchez and are convinced the Chile international only wants to leave Arsenal for Guardiola’s City.
It’s understandable why there is now a squabble for a player of Sanchez’s quality and why Mourinho would want nothing more than to stop the forward strengthening City.
In the last three Premier League campaigns, only Harry Kane (81), Romelu Lukaku (69) and Sergio Aguero (66) have scored or assisted more goals than Sanchez (61)
‘Vardy and Hernandez considered Sanchez alternatives’
Alexis Sanchez is Jose Mourinho’s first choice target this month but the Manchester United manager also has alternatives if the Arsenal No.7 elects to reunite with Pep Guardiola.
According to The Daily Telegraph, Mourinho is mulling a move that would see Javier Hernandez return to Old Trafford three years after he was sold to Bayer Leverkusen.
Mourinho has made it clear in the past that he would not have sold Hernandez if he was United manager at the time, but did pass up the chance to sign the 29-year-old before he joined West Ham in the summer.
The United boss is open to the idea of signing another striker to help ease the burden on Romelu Lukaku for the remainder of the season and Hernandez certainly has the qualities to fill in and do a job when required, although any deal would hinge on whether he is willing for another bench role.
More interestingly, United have also identified Leicester striker Jamie Vardy as an alternative to Sanchez. Vardy is similar to Sanchez in that both are tenacious in their style and a nightmare to defend against, but it remains to be seen whether the 31-year-old could cut it at one of England’s biggest clubs.
Even if United fail to sign another striker, their pursuit of Sanchez, Vardy and Hernandez certainly highlights short-termism on Mourinho’s part, looking for instant success rather than the bigger picture.
‘United will lock horns with Liverpool for Pulisic’
Manchester United’s pursuit of teen sensation Christian Pulisic has not been as well documented as the likes of Liverpool’s, but they have been watching with interest from afar.
The 19-year-old is arguably the greatest football talent ever produced by the United States and United are keen to get a piece of him after identifying his value on and off the field.
Pulisic has been earmarked as a long-term transfer target for Liverpool in the wake of Philippe Coutinho’s departure to Barcelona earlier this month and a summer move could be on the cards for Jurgen Klopp’s side.
However, according to The Independent, United are ready to go head-to-head with their Premier League rivals should they step up their interest with a formal move for the teenager.
Pulisic has started all but three of Borussia Dortmund’s 17 Bundesliga matches this season and has completed the most dribbles in the division (49).
‘United ponder move for PSG outcast’
As Paris Saint-Germain look to recoup some of the money they invested in Neymar and Kylian Mbappe over the summer, one of the players free to leave this month is Lucas Moura.
The 25-year-old has been regularly linked with a move to Manchester United in the past and now Jose Mourinho is considering a move for the Brazilian to bolster his offensive options on the right hand side.
United would prefer to secure Moura on loan for the remainder of the season before getting his signature on a permanent basis at the end of the season, but PSG have, according to Foot Mercato, slapped a stunning €40m (£35.5m) price tag on his head.
Given Moura has only played 72 minutes of league action this season, no team will be willing to spend that much money on the PSG No.7, despite his talent.
In the last five Ligue 1 campaigns, the PSG winger has completed the most dribbles (349).
‘Ozil could join Juventus in the summer’
Failure to sign Mesut Ozil from Arsenal this month could leave Jose Mourinho’s side at serious risk of missing out on his signature altogether, reports Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport.
Mourinho’s side are the frontrunners to prise Ozil away from Arsenal but will need to act sooner rather than later if they want to bring the Germany international to Old Trafford.
United must decide whether to pay in excess of £20m for the 29-year-old this month or wait until the summer when his current Arsenal deal is due to expire. However, that would also bring plenty of other European clubs into play, including Juventus.
The Serie A giants have become masters in signing players on free transfers in recent years and are reportedly interested in adding Ozil to the list, which includes the likes of Paul Pogba, Andrea Pirlo and Dani Alves.
Since joining Arsenal in the summer of 2013, Ozil has provided at least three more assists than any other Premier League player (47).
'Griezmann wants £400,000-a-week to join United'
Barcelona's decision to fork out £142m to sign Philippe Coutinho from Liverpool has not only weakened one of United's direct rivals, but it has also given Mourinho renewed hope in a summer move for Atletico Madrid talisman Antoine Griezmann.
The France international was leaning towards a move to Barcelona at the end of the season but Coutinho's arrival has raised serious doubts over whether the Spanish giants can now afford to splash out for the Atletico star.
United will now feel confident about their chances of signing the 26-year-old if they rekindle their interest at the end of the season but, according to The Sun, Griezmann will only join Mourinho's side if they meet his stunning £400,000-a-week salary demands.
