With reports that Jose Mourinho will be appointed Manchester United boss this week, it hasn’t taken long for him to be linked with various players.
The Portuguese tactician is expected to arrive at Old Trafford in the coming days to replace Louis van Gaal, as noted by BBC Sport, in what is a swift move from the hierarchy following on from the club’s FA Cup success on Saturday.
While it remains to be seen whether or not the speculation becomes a reality, The Guardian have reported that the incoming United manager is already lining up several players to form part of his United rebuild.
John Stones, Alvaro Morata, Mauro Icardi, Ezequiel Garay, Andre Gomes and Joao Mario are all reportedly on his transfer wishlist, although it’s highly unlikely that they will all arrive at the club in one transfer window.
United missed out on Champions League football for next season and so will now look to get back into the top four next year while competing in the Europa League along with the domestic cups.
In turn, Mourinho, if appointed, will need to add depth and quality to his squad, and the aforementioned names certainly tick all the boxes in that regard.
Several players currently at Old Trafford could also be offloaded as part of the shake up, and so the necessity of bringing in new faces will be a vital part of the former Chelsea boss’s plans in the coming weeks and months.
By making their move so quickly after the season finished, the United hierarchy have been wise in the sense that it will give Mourinho as much time as possible to get his plans and preparations in place for the new campaign.
The list of targets is certainly an ambitious one, but it promises to build a new core to the squad with plenty of youth and quality, and that is what United need with regards to building a long-term future.