José Mourinho on the hunt for midfield reinforcements

José Mourinho has admitted that he’ll be on the hunt for a midfielder this summer, with Michael Carrick set to hang up his boots and Marouane Fellaini considering an Old Trafford exit. In a surprisingly — but, one would presume, strategically — candid press conference, Mourinho appeared to confirm that Carrick will join his coaching staff next season:

“In midfield Michael Carrick will not be No 16, he will have ‘MC’ on his shirt next season, so we lose a player. It’s there in midfield where we need to – I’m not saying improve – but we need to get a player to compensate the situation of Michael. If Marouane leaves, yes we have two gaps there, so let’s see what happens.”

Mourinho added that he would like to keep Fellaini, but contract negotiations remain ongoing. According to the Independent, the Belgian is asking for a big £125,000 per week deal. He may not be the most technically spectacular of players, but there’s no doubting he adds a useful versatility to United’s squad.

Anyway, it’s time to start dreaming, folks. Marco Verratti? Saúl Ñíguez? Jorginho? Who do we fancy?