The mere mention of Jose Mourinho during the midst of a summer transfer window is enough to send a shiver down the spines of Manchester United supporters.
Things were rarely quiet and drama-free around this time of year when Mourinho was calling the shots.
Seemingly barely a day went by back in 2018, for instance, when the preening Portuguese was not complaining about something or another; his face the spitting image of the proverbial slapped behind.
Still, while Mourinho is long gone at Old Trafford these days, Manchester United could still find themselves renewing acquaintances with their old boss six years on as another summer window hearts up.
According to Turkish reporter Yagiz Sabuncuoglu on X, Man United could approach Mourinho’s new employers in the coming days to express their interest in the £17 million-rated Ferdi Kadioglu.
The swashbuckling left-back was one of the breakout talents at Euro 2024, shining during Turkey’s run to the quarter-finals. Mourinho is determined to keep Kadioglu – and all of his star players for that matter – but there may be a deal to be done with Fener keen to reunite with ex-Red Devils coach with one Victor Lindelof.
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Manchester United could do deals with Mourinho’s Fenerbahce
According to The Telegraph, talks to take Lindelof to Istanbul got underway at the end of June.
Even if United do not pull off the three-pronged transfer swoop of Matthijs de Ligt, Leny Yoro and Jarrad Branthwaite, opportunities are expected to be restricted for the long-serving Swede next term.
His 30th birthday just days away, Lindelof is typical of the classic Turkish Super Lig signing; an experienced big name maybe on the lookout for one last big European contract.
Fenerbahce, for instance, added considerable experience to their squad last year by bringing in Edin Dzeko, Dusan Tadic and another of Mourinho’s one-time Man United stalwarts in Fred.
And Mourinho, fully aware of Fenerbahce’s place in the footballing food chain, admits that he will have to lower his sights in terms of his usual transfer targets.
He mentions Joao Neves – the midfielder admired by Manchester United and countless other European heavyweights – as precisely the sort of talent he will have to do without at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium.
“Attentive? I always am (to the best footballers in Portugal),” Mourinho tells Sport TV.
“The players in the league that convince me and that I would like to have here are outside our possibilities and beyond the ambitions of the younger players.
“Joao Neves would never come to Fenerbahce at this stage of his career.”
Joao Neves likely to stay at Benfica this summer
That is true, though it does not appear that Neves will be going anywhere this summer.
Benfica have made it clear that they have no plans to let the teenage playmaker go unless his £102 million release clause is triggered. They even released a statement in the winter confirming that no talks had been held with United.
Alongside Benfica team-mate Antonio Silva – who did his reputation little good with a disastrous display during Portugal’s 2-0 defeat by Georgia at Euro 2024 – Neves appears likely to spend another year in Lisbon.
Man United are prioritising a far more affordable deal in the shape of PSG’s Manuel Ugarte.
“I don’t know if United rumours are true,” Bruno Fernandes – the Red Devils captain and Neves’ Portugal team-mate – told Sport TV recently. “But I know he is ready for that big jump.
“He is an excellent player, he’s with the national team. That’s also why the big clubs are after him”,
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/ZP1R9WF