Jose Mourinho is so keen to reunite with Chelsea favourite Willian that he wants Manchester United to spend £60m on the Brazilian, according to The Sun.
The Special One, poised to be appointed United manager this week after the sacking of Louis van Gaal, signed Willian from Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala for £30million in 2013, and the 27-year-old emerged as one of the stars of Mourinho’s second Stamford Bridge reign.
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Even this season when the Blues self-destructed, Willian maintained his standards, winning Chelsea’s fans’ Player of the Year and players’ Player of the Year awards.
The Sun reports that the South American would be keen on working with Mourinho again, and he was not afraid to publicly admit his admiration for the Portuguese tactician.
“Jose is one of the most successful coaches in the world and Manchester United will be stronger with him as manager,” The Sun quotes Willian as saying as Brazil prepare for the Copa America in California.
“I played some of my best football under Mourinho. He is a special coach and I have a great relationship with him.
“Winning the Premier League with him was one of the highlights of my career. I was sad things didn’t work out after that.”
Willian has two years left on his contract at Chelsea, for whom he has scored 19 goals in 140 games, and would surely be a player that incoming boss Antonio Conte is keen to keep.
It could be a blockbuster summer transfer window at Old Trafford. The Sun adds that United are close to securing a deal for Swedish superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic on a free transfer.
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