Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is having arguably the worst summer transfer window of his short time at Old Trafford. The 2018 edition has been rather dull, and it looks especially boring when you juxtapose it against the first two summer Mourinho era transfer windows at United, which brought prolific spending and lots of excitement.
Mourinho is famous for always wanting to get his transfer business done early, and this summer, with the window closing much earlier than usual, it’s a more pressing need than in your typical offseason.
As you can see from comments made in media availabilities, the window is simply just not going Mourinho’s way right now.
“One thing is what I would like. Another thing is what is going to happen,” Mourinho said in an interview with ESPN.
When he was asked directly how many new players he would like to bring in this transfer window, Mourinho answered: “I would get two more players.”
Transfer window misses, coupled with the fact that he has to undertake his preseason tour with such a depleted squad (many key, star players are on holiday following a long tour of international duty in the World Cup with their respective nations) seems to have deflated Mourinho this summer
The transfer window got off to an exciting start for Mourinho and company, as they made a £52 million signing in Brazilian midfielder Fred. However, the only additions since were a £19 million defender that won’t even play until September (Diogo Dalot) and a goalkeeper who will be third string (Lee Grant).
In other words, nothing to really be enthused about. Of those two more signings that Mourinho wants, you have to believe one will be a winger, as they consistently keep targeting that position. That makes sense, as they have really whiffed on their winger acquisitions in recent transfer windows.
As for the other position, one would assume it would be a central defender.
When you’re still starting Chris Smalling and Phil Jones as a central defense pairing in a cup game, it’s time for an upgrade.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, is currently a regular contributor to SB Nation, WGN CLTV and Chicago Now.
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