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Manchester United transfer news: Jose Mourinho 'identifies key positions to strengthen'

The incoming Portuguese coach has four key areas in which he would like to bring new additions

Mark Critchley
Wednesday 25 May 2016 08:51 BST
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Mourinho will have to rebuild the squad if he is to restore United's glory days
Mourinho will have to rebuild the squad if he is to restore United's glory days

Jose Mourinho has identified the positions that he needs to strengthen at Manchester United as he prepares to embark on a major rebuilding process, according to reports.

The former Chelsea manager, who is understood to have ‘agreed personal terms’ with his prospective new club, has pinpointed four areas in which he would like to bring new additions.

According to the Daily Mirror, Mourinho is believed to want a new centre-back, a central midfielder, a right winger and a centre-forward.

Karim Benzema, the Real Madrid striker, is one of Mourinho’s priority targets, as revealed by The Independent on Tuesday. His Paris Saint-Germain counterpart Zlatan Ibrahimovic is also believed to be of interest.

Ibrahimovic’s team-mate Marquinhos, a centre-back, could be brought in to partner Chris Smalling, though Mourinho is also believed to be keen on John Stones, the Everton defender.

The 53-year-old coach is said to want like a ‘captain’ in central midfield, which has proved a problem position at United for best part of this decade.

Wayne Rooney, the club’s current captain, found himself deployed in the position recently and has expressed a desire to stay there, though Mourinho has long admired his abilities as a striker.

Michael Carrick, United’s vice-captain, is a natural central midfielder but is yet to learn whether he will still be at the club come the start of next season, with the 35-year-old’s contract running out at the end of June.

The capture of a right-sided midfielder would also address one of the squad’s problem areas.

Juan Mata often found himself used in the position under former manager Louis van Gaal, though his suitability to the role was consistently questioned.

The technically-gifted Spaniard was sold to United by Mourinho’s Chelsea two years ago, which has led many to believe that the Portuguese coach will dispense with him again when he arrives at Old Trafford.

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