Manchester United will make a £54million swoop for Real Madrid star James Rodriguez, according to El Confidencial.

The Colombian's agent Jorge Mendes reportedly sat down with United chief Ed Woodward last week with the intention of thrashing out an initial deal.

Mendes, who is also manager Jose Mourinho's agent, could also offer more of him clients to United in the coming weeks.

Rodriguez is allegedly keen on a move away from Real after being left on the bench for the entire Champions League final at the end of last season.

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Fabinho poised to be United player?

Fabinho (right) is reportedly close to joining United (
Image:
Getty Images)

Monaco full-back Fabinho could be on his way to Manchester United, according to Italian journalist Emanuele Giulianelli.

The samba sensation is reportedly going to be the subject of an offer of around £25million in the coming days as United look to boost their options in defence.

Fabinho, 22, has been impressing in Ligue 1 and is touted as one of the highly-rated young full-backs in the world.

Giulianelli claims that Fabinho will soon be a United player.

CBJ set for loan departure?

Borthwick Jackson is poised to be sent out on loan for the season (
Image:
Action Images via Reuters)

Cameron Borthwick-Jackson is poised to leave Manchester United on loan, according to The Times.

The full-back broke into the United line-up last season and maintained his place in the first-team with consistent performances under new manager Louis van Gaal.

But he has been left out of the pre-season tour of China due to a slight injury and manager Jose Mourinho is reportedly ready to ship him out on loan for the season.

He is one of several academy graduates Mourinho could loan out, with James Wilson and Tyler Blackett set to follow.

Numbers hint at Pogba arrival?

Has the squad number release given away that Pogba is joining? (
Image:
AFP/Getty)

Manchester United have revealed their squad numbers for the new campaign - with one glaring omission.

As always, the revelation of the squad list has set tongues wagging as fans decide who to have on the back of their shirts, but one number that was not taken has caused just as much of a stir as many that were.

Fans were thrilled to see Zlatan Ibrahimovic had taken iconic number 9 with Anthony Martial moving to the legendary number 11 once worn by George Best, report the Manchester Evening News.

The No.6 remains vacant with excited Reds feverishly speculating it is being kept for Paul Pogba.

A world record deal to bring the French midfield ace back to Old Trafford is thought to be edging ever closer.

Mourinho calm over Pogba wait

Mourinho insists that he is keeping calm (
Image:
John Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images)

Jose Mourinho believes Paul Pogba is the final piece in his Manchester United jigsaw as he plots their route back to the top, writes Mirror Football's David McDonnell.

United expect to imminently confirm the world-record £100million capture of midfielder Pogba from Italian champions Juventus.

Mourinho said: “Paul Pogba is a Juventus player and what we’re trying to do we are trying to do in an honest, correct and institutional way.

“The only thing I can say is we did 75 per cent of our market.

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"We established four important target profiles – not faces, profiles – and we got three of them at the very early stage of the market.

“Now we have 25 per cent of our market to conclude until the 31st of August.

“So we are in a great position to complete what I consider will be a great market for us. So we are calm.

“We know the profile of the player we want and we have three faces that fit that profile. But I’m really confident Mr Woodward and the owners can get the profile of the player I think the squad needs.”

Mata has place at United, insists Mourinho

Mata (centre) remains with the United first-team (
Image:
Man Utd via Getty)

Jose Mourinho has made his peace with Juan Mata and insisted the midfielder can play a role under him at Manchester United, writes Mirror Football's from David McDonnell.

Mourinho sold Mata to United for £37.1million in January 2014 when he was at Chelsea and the Spain international’s future looked bleak when his old boss ended up taking over at the Old Trafford giants.

But the Special One claimed there is no problem between them but did warn the 28-year-old is likely to be a fringe player under him at United, just like he was at Chelsea.

“I think since the first day everything is clear between us,” said Mourinho. “There is space for him. He’s a talented player and I don’t promise places to anyone.

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“I promise respect and I like him, so if he wants to stay and I think he wants [that]. Until this moment I don’t have one little sign that he wants to leave, so I think he wants to stay and, yes, there is space for him and, yes, I think he can be useful to the club.

“I sold him because he asked for that.

"Nobody in my previous club wanted to sell or push him. No, it was his decision. He was not the first option, but he was playing every game."

Mourinho TEASED Ibrahimovic to United

Mourinho is said to have teased Ibrahimovic into joining United

Jose Mourinho has revealed how he goaded Zlatan Ibrahimovic into joining Manchester United to fulfil one last career goal, writes Mirror Football's David McDonnell.

Striker Ibrahimovic has won titles in Holland, Italy, Spain and France, but Mourinho said the chance to emulate him by adding the Premier League to that illustrious list convinced him to join United.

And the Special One, who worked with the maverick 34-year-old at Inter Milan, claimed Ibrahimovic still has the hunger to deliver at the highest level and said he had shown that by signing for United and rejecting several easier options.

“Let’s be honest, he’s very rich,” said Mourinho. “He’s made money all his career, he’s won a lot of things, so you only come to the most difficult championship in the world if you feel you can do it.

In pictures - United train in China:

“If you don’t feel you can do it, you go to America, China — or stay in the French League for one more season.

"So the guy wanted this one more challenge and I expect he's going to be very good for us.

“When I told him I'd won in England, Spain and Italy and he hadn’t, that he’d done Spain, Italy and France, he thought, 'Ah, I want to go. I want to win every one'.

"So his motivation is high."