Stand by for a day of drama at Old Trafford – and one which could spell the beginning of the end for Jose Mourinho’s time at Manchester United.
For if Mourinho doesn’t get at least one of the five names he gave to negotiator Ed Woodward at the start of the summer expect major fireworks.
Relations between Mourinho and Woodward are at a low ebb.
An awkward public meeting on tour in America and radio silence on new arrivals after the early signings of Brazilian midfielder Fred and young Porto full back Diogo Dalot have left United looking at a frantic final day scramble before the transfer window slams shut at 5pm.
And if one the manager’s original centre-half targets – Harry Maguire, Jerome Boateng or Toby Alderweireld – don’t arrive in Manchester before the close of play it’s sure to trigger a Mourinho meltdown.
Is the Board tired of Mourinho?
A section of fans believe that Woodward could be tired of Mourinho and is preparing to fire him and that is why the club have refused to give him more money to waste on new transfers. The manager has spend almost a similar amount to the one that Pep Guardiola spent at neighboring city but the teams have not enjoyed the same fate.
Guardiola blew away Mourinho in the title race last season and is still the bookmarkers’ favorite to lift the trophy in May next year. Mourinho finished second but with fifteen points less than the winners.
The Portuguese signed Mkhitaryan and Eric Bailly in his first season and Victor Lindelof last season but did not get the best out of the expensive acquistions. MKhitaryan was sold to Arsenal in January while the two defenders spent most of the season on the bench.
It is hard to tell which kind of players Mourinho wants to sign because on paper he has one of the most talented squads in the world.
His public feuds with star players like Martial and Pogba have also not helped the manager’s course. Mourinho recently criticized the French forward for not returning to pre-season in the US following the birth of his second baby. Martial responded by saying that his family comes first but why can’t such things be handled inhouse? Must the media be involved.
Pogba Going Nowhere
But at least on Deadline Day United’s Portuguese coach and Woodward are on the same page on one important issue – the future of Paul Pogba.
They might disagree on plenty but they won’t be letting French World Cup winning star Pogba leave – for Barcelona or anywhere.Super-agent Mino Raiola is agitating to get the powerful Frenchman a move only two seasons after his world record £89million move from Juventus.
And selling him, even to Spain, makes no sense when it would leave them no time to buy a replacement of the same stature – if one were available.