Jose Mourinho prioritises midfield signings

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho doesn’t think it’s going to be easy to improve his side’s attack in the next transfer window. However, he thinks that they will prioritise signing a midfielder, at least. With Michael Carrick going to retire and Marouane Fellaini looking set to leave on a free transfer, that frees up two positions to be filled. Ander Herrera also exists, but it’s hard to believe that he can offer much more than diving and snide fouls.

Mourinho has confirmed that Carrick will join the coaching staff at United, and offered praise for Luke Shaw. Shaw can earn a place in the squad next season if he’s able to keep working hard, but that seems unlikely given the last few years of his career. It would save a lot of money for everyone if he were able to pull his finger out.

Fellaini’s knee injury might keep him out for up to two months. That means he might have played his last meaningful game for United, given the Champions League challenge is unlikely to go beyond the quarter-finals this season.

Mourinho has said that he doesn’t expect to challenge for the Premier League, as Manchester City could go 18 points clear if they win their game against Burnley tomorrow. However, he wants United to be the best of the rest this season. United really only need to fix their defence and add a midfielder to have a properly decent squad for next season, but some of the current squad have five months to demonstrate that they can raise their game, unlike Phil Jones and Chris Smalling.

And lastly, I wrote about Manchester United’s continued remembrance of the Munich disaster, and why in modern football it remains vital that they don’t forget one of the fundamental parts of the club’s history.