Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is not planning on signing AS Monaco midfielder Fabinho, but he is interested in bringing Nemanja Matic and Eric Dier to the club, according to the Manchester Evening News.
The newspaper claims that the Manchester giants are not in the running to sign the 23-year-old Brazilian Fabinho because Mourinho does not see him as the right candidate to replace veteran midfielder Michael Carrick.
It is reported that the Portuguese manager does want to bring in a new defensive midfielder to help world record signing Paul Pogba fulfil his true potential at the club, and Mourinho has set his sights on two proven Premier League performers.
The Manchester Evening News report that Chelsea’s Matic and Tottenham’s Dier are the two players earmarked to fulfil the role.
The paper claims United would be able to tempt the Premier League champions with an offer around £40million for Matic, 28, even though they are unwilling to sell to a rival team.
Matic is also reportedly open to a move to Old Trafford as Chelsea are the front runners to sign Monaco midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko.
Both Mourinho and Matic enjoyed great success together during their spell at Stamford Bridge where Chelsea won the Premier League and the Carling Cup in the 2014-15 season.
The Serbia international was once again instrumental in helping Chelsea pick up a second league title in just three years as he made 40 appearances in all competitions and contributed with two goals and nine assists last season.
Matic’s current contract at Stamford Bridge expires in the summer of 2019.