JUST IN: Jose Mourinho Wants to Sign Central Midfield Duo Rated at £135m this Summer (Read Full Manager Report)

According to reports in Peruvian media outlet Libero, via the Daily Express, Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is targeting summer moves for
Paris Saint-Germain’s Marco Verratti – rated at £63m by Transfermarkt – and Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos – rated at £72m by Transfermarkt – as he looks to solve his side’s midfield issues and make them Premier League and Champions League contenders again.

What’s the word, then?

Well, Libero report that Mourinho is ready to bring four new players to Old Trafford this summer, with Verratti named as one of those high on the list of the new central midfielders that he wants.


However, Libero also say that Toni Kroos could arrive in Manchester along with the Italy international rather than instead of, with only Nemanja Matic looking to be a certain starter for the Red Devils in the middle of the park next term.

The future of Marouane Fellaini is still up in the air given he is yet to extend his deal which expires at the end of the season, while Paul Pogba has fallen out of favour in recent weeks and hasn’t impressed the Old Trafford faithful with his displays and attitude, while Michael Carrick is retiring and Scott McTominay is still relatively inexperienced.

How have Verratti and Kroos done this season?

Both players have been regulars for their teams, with the former scoring two goals and providing a further seven assists in 37 appearances in all competitions, while the latter has netted four times and produced nine assists in 32 outings in total.

The duo are both brilliant on the ball, decent in possession and have passing accuracies of more than 90% according to stats-based website WhoScored.com – 92.9% in 28 appearances for Kroos and 91.3% in 30 outings for Verratti – but they also have the ability to bring the ball forward and create chances too.

Is there really enough room for both in the United midfield?

It’s difficult to say.

If Mourinho wants his team to be more attacking next year then sitting the duo in a midfield three alongside Nemanja Matic would certainly allow them to do that, but the Red Devils hierarchy may question whether they really need both players, especially as they could come at a huge cost.

Should they look to sign both?

If United want to challenge for the Premier League and Champions League next season they need to make some big statements and some significant improvements to their squad this summer, and bringing Verratti and Kroos to Old Trafford would certainly allow them to that.

Of course, actually completing the deals may not be so easy for them.