Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho may finally get the defensive reinforcement that he has craved since last summer’s failed attempts at bringing a centre-half to the club, according to reports from the Sun.
That outlet claims that the Portuguese, along with his agent Jorge Mendes, have ‘reached an agreement on plans for the January transfer window’ with the club’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward.
Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld is seen as the likeliest option, with the Belgian international out of contract in north London in the summer, meaning he should be available at a cut rate.
The 29-year-old could be snapped up for around the £40m mark, with Spurs unlikely to want to miss out on their last chance to earn a fee from his leaving the club, especially as the costs of an over-run stadium build continue to bite.
Lining up Alderweireld as a first-choice for next month’s market is something of a compromise between the two sides, with Mourinho reportedly keen on the Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly.
The Senegalese international, 27, signed a long-term deal immediately after the close of the summer window and would command a much higher fee that the soon-to-be released Alderweireld would, possibly £90m.
Mourinho has openly been critical of the club’s failure to bring in the centre-half he requested as a priority last summer, and has selected a range of midfielders in the position at times this season, as if to underline his lack of options.
An injury sustained by Chris Smalling in Saturday’s win over Fulham leaves the club paper thin at the back, with Victor Lindelof another absentee and Eric Bailly also a doubt, and so a move for Alderweireld or another similarly experienced defender would seem a no brainer when the clocks tick over into the new year.