Jose Mourinho is hopeful Manchester United will make two more additions before the transfer window shuts.
The Red Devils have already brought in four new signings with Fred joining from Shakhtar Doneski, along with teenage full-back Diogo Dalot and goalkeeper Lee Grant, who is set to serve as a back-up to David de Gea and Sergio Romero.
Anthony Martial has been linked with a move away from Old Trafford, while Harry Maguire, Miralem Pjanic and Ivan Perisic are among United’s reported targets. Although Mourinho was not giving anything away, the United manager hinted he is not fully satisfied with the club’s transfer business.
“One thing is what I would like. Another thing is what is going to happen. I would get two more players,” said Mourinho.
United’s strength in depth could be tested further due to the injury suffered by Antonio Valencia in the friendly draw with San Jose Earthquakes.
Mourinho confirmed the right-back will miss much of the club’s pre-season campaign out of precaution, given that Dalot is out until September and Matteo Darmian has been tipped to return to Serie A.
“I don’t think he will be available to play any one of the three matches of the International Champions Cup,” Mourinho said of Valencia, who is expected to be named Michael Carrick’s successor as club captain.
“It’s not a moment to take any risks. Antonio is a player that’s not a young boy anymore. We have to take care of him and to try to have him ready for the start of the season. We bought a fantastic player [in Dalot]: young, 19 years old, but I think probably the best right-back at that age in European football.
“But he had a surgery last May and is recovering for that, so one more reason to take care of Antonio.”
United face AC Milan, Liverpool and Real Madrid in the International Champions Cup before a friendly match against Bayern Munich.
They then get the 2018-19 Premier League season underway on August 10 against Leicester City.
Jose Mourinho insists Manchester United “are not a team” yet following their 0-0 draw with San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday evening. Mourinho appeared completely unperturbed by United’s second consecutive draw on its US friendly tour, conceding it was “one more training session”. With many of his best players missing the trip after World Cup commitments, the Portuguese appeared content that the squad – this time with Alexis Sanchez included – were able to get some practice in, if nothing else.
“We are not a team. We’re a group of players from different teams,” he told MUTV after the game. “Some are first-team, some under-23s, some coming from loans and going on loan, some are younger, under-18s. We don’t have a team to play much better than we did but [it’s] one more training session.”
After missing the start of the pre-season tour – the 1-1 draw with Club America on Thursday night – due to a visa issue, Sanchez started for the Reds at the California Memorial Stadium on Sunday.The Chilean made an attempt off a free kick in the 30th minute, but it sailed off high to the left. Sanchez had a hand in another close miss by Luke Shaw after the break, but United could not break the deadlock.
“Good for Alexis,” Mourinho said: “He needed this and he made a good effort, a good physical effort, which is important for him in this moment. Andreas Pereira performed “okay” and the boss thought he could play “even more simply”. But he has the personality to want the ball and to organise. I’m happy,” he added.
A potentially worrisome moment for Mourinho came after seven minutes of play when Antonio Valencia limped off injured. But again, the manager remained sanguine: “He’s injured and I think we need to get used to it,” he said. “Last season he was already in this type of situation and this season he will probably have more of that.United next play Real Madrid on Wednesday at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.”
Man United’s 2018 pre-season tour of America is failing to hit any high notes. After drawing 1-1 with Club America last week, Man United were held to a forgettable 0-0 draw with the San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday night in California. Of course, Man United are without a group of their best players who competed at the World Cup. Yet the Red Devils were able to field the likes of Anthony Martial and Alexis Sanchez against the MLS side. But a breakthrough never materialised.
Man United’s evening against San Jose started badly. Right-back Antonio Valencia was injured in the opening exchanges and he was subbed out the game after seven minutes. The right-back hobbled off with looked like a calf injury. He was replaced by Matteo Darmian. Coach Mourinho recently appointed Valencia as the new captain after Michael Carrick retired and joined the teams coaching staff.
After the match mixed reports came out about Valencia’s injury. Some are fearing the South American may now be out for the start of the Premier League season. Man United face Leicester City on August 10. However Valencia was keen to be optimistic after the San Jose game.
Leicester City’s Harry Maguire is a 50 million pound target for Man United. At the same time, links to Juventus left-back Alex Sandro have receded. Luke Shaw is now expected to remain at Old Trafford this season.
Timothy Fosu-Mensah, however, is expecting to be sent out on loan again. Man United have already signed 19-year-old defender Diogo Dalot from Porto.