Manchester United are trying to secure a stunning loan deal for Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng.
That’s according to Sky Sports News’ Kaveh Solhekol, with the Red Devils determined not to pay over the odds this summer. It seems as though Jose Mourinho’s men have all-but given up the pursuit of Harry Maguire with Leicester remaining firm in the stance that the Englishman isn’t for sale.
Now, Boateng, 29, seems to be at the top of Jose Mourinho’s wishlist – but only on a short-term move.
Manchester United want Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng on loan deal. Determined not to pay over the odds in current market. Leicester saying Harry Maguire not for sale
— Kaveh Solhekol (@SkyKaveh) August 8, 2018
Normally I’d immediately reject the idea of taking someone on loan, but at this point in time, I see the logic behind it. It doesn’t seem as though the man we really want is available, so there is no point in buying just for the sake of it.
Boateng is a super player, but injuries have seriously hampered his career over the last few seasons. Bringing him in permanently would be a huge risk, so let’s get him in on a short-term deal and see how his body holds up in the Premier League. Then, the club can think about making the move permanent.
Edward Woodward will have to act quick, however. There is now less than 24 hours until the deadline slams shut.
Six Players to Miss Leicester Clash
Jose Mourinho delivered an injury update ahead of Manchester United’s first Premier League match of the season against Leicester and declared that six players are ruled out. Mourinho confirmed that Nemanja Matic, Sergio Romero, Marcos Rojo, Antonio Valencia, Diogo Dalot and Ander Herrera will miss the home opener against the Foxes on Friday due to injury. Matic, Romero and Dalot underwent surgery during the summer, Rojo suffered a knock while playing for Argentina at the World Cup and Herrera as well as Valencia were shelved during pre-season.
The United boss said during today’s press conference: ‘Romero, he had a surgery after his injury, Valencia, he was injured in pre-season, Marcos Rojo, he was injured in the World Cup, Dalot had a surgery in Porto by the end of April and not yet ready. ‘Ander Herrera injured against Bayern, Matic injured in the World Cup and surgery in Philadelphia a couple of weeks ago. And I think that’s it.
‘They return on Monday, train Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and today so you can imagine that they are not really fit and ready. ‘But we have needs, the list that I gave you before of the injured players is an important list and today after training I will speak with that group of players because everybody is different physically and mentally and to see how they feel they are and to understand how they can help or not help.’
Mourinho said earlier that those who had a proper pre-season and regularly competed in the friendlies, like Alexis Sanchez, are fully fit. But the Portuguese manager insisted that those who played in the World Cup finals and then took a three-week holiday cannot be expected to be in match form either.
Mourinho told MUTV: ‘No miracles. The players with a proper pre-season are fit and they are strong. ‘For example, Alexis Sanchez had a good pre-season with lots of matches and lots of minutes. He’s more than ready but you cannot have the players who arrived only last Monday after the World Cup semi-finals or final and three weeks’ holiday. You cannot expect them to be fit.’