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25th July 2018
11:49am BST
A year later, Inter have qualified for the Champions League and don't have any FFP issues. After Perisic's performances in Russia, and the inflation in transfer prices, they reportedly value him at £80m. If United weren't prepared to pay an extra few million last summer, they aren't going to pay such a fee for a player who will be 30 next February.
Yet, according to Miguel Delaney, writing in The Independent, United would be willing to pay such a fee for another 29-year-old - Gareth Bale. Or rather, Ed Woodward, the club's executive vice-chairman will sanction a transfer for the Real Madrid forward because he has "star power".
According to Delaney: "A common source of irritation for Mourinho has been how the club so often pursues players of certain 'names', rather than those of certain qualities that he wants. Had they actually completed a deal for Cristiano Ronaldo, for example – although that was never considered realistic this summer – the manager would not have expected the funds for it to come out of his budget."
It appears that the manager and the main decision-maker at Old Trafford aren't on the same page. Mourinho wants functional players who will improve his team and follow his instructions. Woodward is interested in signing star names who can boost United's brand.
There is an obvious conflict of interests and it sums up why United have been getting their recruitment wrong at times over the past few years. It also shows that the club is in desperate need of a director of football.
It now appears pretty clear that, if it was Mourinho's money, he wouldn't have spent £90m on Paul Pogba, a player of great talent and fame, but not the obedient soldier the United manager wants in his team. He's right to be unhappy over the Perisic deal collapsing because of a few million pounds last summer. But he also hasn't helped himself at times.
He is seeking to sign another central defender and has reportedly even considered signing Gary Cahill from Chelsea. Yet, just 12 months ago United signed Victor Lindelof from Benfica for around £30m. Lindelof didn't impress at Old Trafford last season. But surely Cahill isn't the solution.
United's transfer approach has been muddled and doesn't bode well for the upcoming season. Mourinho also seems tetchy and refused to answer a question about United's title hopes for the new season. If he doesn't get some of the players he wants, and move on some players who aren't in his plans, Mourinho will undoubtedly start the season in a terrible mood. Another third season Mourinho meltdown, as what happened at Chelsea and Real Madrid, might not be too far away.Explore more on these topics:
