Jose Mourinho wants to sign Joao Mario from Inter Milan as he seems him as the ideal long-term replacement for Michael Carrick, according to The Sun.
The newspaper claim that when Henrikh Mkhitaryan is sold to Inter, Mourinho is keen to secure Mario going in the other direction.
The Sun report that Mkhitaryan, 28, is “set for the axe at Manchester United after losing his first-team place, with Inter ready to swoop”.
It is said that Mario will cost Manchester United at least £40million because that is the fee Inter Milan paid Sporting Lisbon in 2016.
Inter boss Luciano Spalletti despite insisting that Mario hasn’t requested transfer, has confessed the midfielder is unhappy at the club.
Mario has grabbed five assists in 13 league appearance for Inter this season, and is contracted to the club until 2021.
Good move for Manchester United?
Mario is a talented midfielder but the comparison to Carrick is a weird suggestion, considering that the Inter Milan midfielder is much more attacking-minded.
Man United do need to secure a replacement for Carrick because his presence is still missed in the team, despite him not featuring for a while.
However, Mario is the correct answer if that’s what they want.
This Is Futbol rating: 6/10
Likely to happen?
Mkhitaryan does look certain to leave Man United, so a conversation between the club and Inter Milan is bound to happen, as the Italian giant’s interest seems legit.
However, Mario simply doesn’t look like a player Mourinho needs to sign, and with a £40million fee, at least needed, this one doesn’t look like happening.
This Is Futbol rating: 3/10