José Mourinho is becoming increasingly frustrated at so far adding only Victor Lindelof to his squad in the transfer window, with the Manchester United manager concerned no more major signings will be in place when the pre-season tour starts on Sunday.
After United won the Europa League final against Ajax in late May, Mourinho publicly stated it was down to Ed Woodward, the executive vice-chairman, to ensure his targets were secured as soon as possible.
Yet six weeks later Mourinho has seen deals for Chelsea’s Nemanja Matic and Real Madrid’s Álvaro Morata stall. The Portuguese remains hopeful the transfers of the midfielder and centre-forward can be secured before Sunday. However, it is understood that Mourinho will be dismayed if Lindelof, a 22-year-old centre-back, is the only new player who will be on the flight to America and then relations between Mourinho and Woodward could become strained.
Mourinho is intent that United make a serious challenge for the Premier League title next season after finishing sixth at the close of his first term in charge. In order to do so the 54-year-old wanted to have at least three of the four key new players he wants integrated as early as possible.
Woodward flew to New Zealand to attend the British and Irish Lions first test against the All Blacks at the end of last month and this caused some surprise among Mourinho’s staff. There is an acknowledgment that Chelsea’s desire to land Monaco’s Tiemoué Bakayoko before allowing Matic to leave and Real’s interest in David de Gea are stumbling blocks. But there is a sense that Woodward needs to rise to the challenge of securing their signatures before Sunday.
Mourinho said after the Europa League final victory on 24 May: “Ed Woodward has my analysis, has what I want, what I would like for more than two months. Now it’s for him, now for the owners and the people who work with him [to sort], so I just wait.”
United play LA Galaxy on 16 July, Real Salt Lake City (18 July), Manchester City (21 July), Real Madrid (23 July) and Barcelona (27 July) in a hectic 11-day schedule, following a six-day training camp at in Los Angeles.