Mourinho Gradually transform Man Utd - All Sport News

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Thursday 20 July 2017

Mourinho Gradually transform Man Utd

While on tour with Manchester United in the USA, Jose Mourinho told a news conference: "Our squad is not so big. Everybody knows, because I told the objective, I would like four players and I have asked for four players, and I am ready to go from four to three because the market is difficult."

Mourinho already has two of those signings -- Victor Lindelof and Romelu Lukaku -- and many assume he is still looking for additions in defensive midfield as well as on the wing. It is always tempting to dissect his words and extract more meaning from them than they actually have -- mainly because in the past, he has so often put out statements with barely veiled barbs.

But in this case, it seems his words can be taken at face value. This summer has seen the most distorted market to date -- one where, as Mourinho states: "The strange thing is now I am used to seeing teams paying big amounts for big players. Now, everybody is paying big amounts for good players. There is a difference between good players and big players. Now the figures are also really crazy for normal players."

Some clubs are now so wealthy that they don't need to sell their best players -- or, if they do, they will be sure to charge United a premium. That's all understandable enough. What it means, though, is that Mourinho might still end up short of the players he needs in order to mount an effective campaign both in the Premier League and in Europe.

Crucially, even if he were to land those two extra players, he might still not have enough. Mourinho likes to work with a small squad -- a method which has brought him extraordinary success over the years -- but in doing so risks exposing his playing staff as threadbare.

Bayern Munich have so much depth in their midfield that they can afford to sell Renato Sanches if need be. If Paul Pogba or Ander Herrera suffer injuries or require rest -- not an unrealistic prospect, given their prodigious workload last season -- United have to rely on a partnership of Marouane Fellaini and Michael Carrick. This highlights the side's severe lack of depth, even if United do add one more player to their midfield ranks.

Axel Tuanzebe and Timothy Fosu-Mensah can be diligent deputies, but they do not yet have the experience and the passing range to replace Herrera and Pogba adequately. Fellaini lacks pace and creativity, and Carrick is not at an age where he can be relied upon to play too many games. There is cause for some concern, given how tired Pogba looked in the month or so after Christmas -- a period immediately following his best two months of form since returning to Old Trafford.

Ed Woodward also deserves substantial credit for the speed and the secrecy with which these deals have been made. The signing of Lukaku in particular was achieved with the same sort of minimal fuss that was the hallmark of David Gill. United's recent transfer activity shows that Mourinho is building a side of sufficient quality to challenge the best of Europe in all leading competitions. The only question is whether it's being built quickly enough to pose a consistent threat this season. So far, though, the indications are largely positive.

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