United linked with late swoop for Chelsea winger

It has taken a while, but at last someone’s come up with an almost-certainly-nonsense Manchester United deadline day rumour. The Sun’s Neil Custis is claiming in an ‘EXCLUSIVE’ that “JOSE MOURINHO has made an audacious last gasp bid to land Willian from Chelsea”, a bid “likely” to be in the region of £35 million — he doesn’t even seem particularly convinced himself.

Willian is doubtless a very capable player, even if he’s slightly on the elderly side at 29. It’s also true that Mourinho is a big fan, and that his versatility could come in very handy indeed: he’s capable of playing on both flanks, as well as through the middle when required. Over the last few years he’s been one of Chelsea’s most reliable performers, and Antonio Conte may well have been willing to let him go earlier in the window.

However, it’s difficult to see it happening so late in the day. There are only a few hours before the transfer window closes, and though deals this late aren’t entirely unheard of, they’re certainly uncommon. We’re still not expecting any new arrivals at Old Trafford today.