Manchester United Manager Jose Mourinho said ahead of the Red Devils 4-1 thrashing at the hands of Borussia Dortmund that he is confident his bosses will help deliver him the fourth signing he covets this summer.
After the destruction at the hands of BVB today, Mourinho said United are “75% done” with their summer transfer activity, and that the fourth player will be a midfielder.
Eric Bailly, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrik Mkhitaryan have already come over this summer, and Mourinho said this in reference to the transfer window yesterday ahead of the game:
“My board did a fantastic work to do 75 percent of the job I asked. I asked for four players and gave them a few options. They did for me 75 percent of the job.”
“We have just 25 percent to do before Aug. 31. We are in great position to do a good market.”
Mourinho also remarked that United have been looking at a “few options” regarding their fourth summer signing. Everybody is of course focused on the Paul Pogba storyline right now, a tedious transfer narrative that just won’t come to closure.
(here’s a link to today’s so-called Paul Pogba “developments.”)
When asked about Pogba at that pre-match press conference, Mourinho said: “I don’t confirm and I don’t deny. First of all, it’s not correct to speak of players of other clubs. He’s a Juventus player not a United player.”
In the post-match press conference, Mourinho said:
“I said at the first press conference at Old Trafford, our market has a fundamental part. And that fundamental part is four players: one central defender, one midfielder, one striker, and one creative player.”
“And when we finish that fundamental market we are balanced. Maybe today you don’t feel it but no [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic, no [Marouane] Fellaini, no [Anthony] Martial, no [Morgan] Schneiderlin. So lots of them who are not here yet.”
Later on, Mourinho would add: “Then, the market will be open until the 31st of August, and sometimes things happen that you are not expecting, and we have to react.”
“But our fundamental market is 75 percent done. And when we sign one midfield player that crucial work will be done.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication.
He also consistently appears on numerous talk shows all across the country. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram