Jose Mourinho said weeks ago that he had four major transfer targets in mind ahead of his first season in charge at Manchester United. The four — Paul Pogba, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Eric Bailly — were all secured and made their Old Trafford debuts on Friday.
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Now, Mourinho is after one more major signing: Southampton defender and captain Jose Fonte. The EURO 2016 winner is 32 years old, but there’s nothing wrong with a healthy mix of players on both ends of the career spectrum.
Fonte is flattered by the interest from Man United, according to the Guardian, and would bring the kind of maturity to a largely young, inexperienced defensive unit that could very well be United’s undoing in the Premier League title race.
Cheslea are off to a perfect two-for-two start to Antonio Conte’s first season, but the Italian is said to be in the market for further reinforcements. A reunion with Giorgio Chiellini, whom Conte managed for three seasons at Juventus, is what he really wants, according to Gazetta dello Sport.
The 32-year-old would cost the Blues something in the neighborhood of $34 million.
[ MORE: Friday’s transfer rumor roundup | Thursday | Wednesday ]
Leicester City are expected to make every effort to bolster their backline before the transfer window closes next Wednesday, Aug. 31, with Aleksandar Dragovic topping Claudio Ranieri’s wish list, according to the Mirror.
The 25-year-old Austrian international is the Foxes’ backup plan after Burnley rejected a $19.6-million bid for Michael Keane earlier this week. Luis Hernandez was signed on a free transfer earlier in the summer, but a fourth senior center back would be a wise investment, as starters Wes Morgan and Robert Huth are each 32 years old.
Tottenham Hotspur have been working toward acquiring Marseille winger Georges-Kevin N’Koudou for what seems like decades at this point, but the 21-year-old Frenchman has proved an elusive figure for chairman Daniel Levy and manager Mauricio Pochettino.
According to the Sunday Express, a $14.4-million deal might finally have been reached. Clinton Njie, who only arrived at White Hart Lane last season, is thought to be heading the other way on a season-long loan. The 23-year-old made just eight PL appearances last season (14 in all competitions).