After a slow start to the summer transfer window, it seems Manchester United now mean serious business.
Jose Mourinho secured the signing of Victor Lindelof for £30 million in June but it’s been a month since that deal was officially announced.
Since then, reports have emerged that the Portuguese boss was getting frustrated at the lack of success in the transfer window. Mourinho wanted his transfer targets to be on board the flight to Los Angeles, which left on Sunday as the squad flew out for their pre-season tour.
But United’s fortunes in the window are starting to significantly improve.
Waiting for the rest of the players in LA was Romelu Lukaku after the club secured a £75 million deal, plus add-ons, for the Belgian striker.
But one important man hasn’t travelled to America - Ed Woodward.
Woodward is responsible for transfers
The executive vice-chairman is responsible for trying to sign Mourinho’s targets, with the ’Special One’ taking a back seat when it comes to transfers.
After winning the Europa League, Mourinho said: "Ed Woodward has my list, what I want, what I would like for more than two months. So now it's up to him and the owners. But I don't care about football for now."
Who Woodward is trying to sign
Mourinho's targets were supposed to sign before leaving for LA but having failed in that quest, Woodward has stayed behind to sort out a few transfers.
And, according to the Mirror, he’s remained in the UK to push through two transfers in particular.
They’re reporting that he hasn’t travelled with the club to make sure United sign both Ivan Perisic and Eric Dier.
As far as Perisic is confirmed, Inter Milan want £50 million for the 28-year-old but United aren’t willing to go any higher than £45 million for the Croatian.
Despite him teaming up with Inter on their own pre-season training camp, Perisic is desperate to join United and wants his club to sanction his move
A move for Tottenham’s Dier looks slightly more complicated, though.
He’s expected to cost £50 million and, according to the Guardian, is certainly interested in leaving Spurs for the team he supported as a kid.
And Mourinho is desperate to add a defensive midfielder to his squad before the start of the season and sees Dier as the ideal candidate.
However, Spurs and Daniel Levy are extremely reluctant to sell the 23-year-old and will play hardball during any negotiations.
Whether Woodward will deliver Perisic and Dier for Mourinho and get the pair on a flight over to LA in the coming days remains to be seen. One thing is for sure, he’s going to try his hardest to land them for Mourinho.