Everyone is fully aware that Manchester United need a very big summer in the transfer market.

Having finished 19 points behind Manchester City in the Premier League - and finishing the campaign trophyless, Jose Mourinho has a massive season ahead of him.

Failure to win silverware once again next time around and the Portuguese boss will surely be relieved of his duties at Old Trafford.

As a result, Mourinho isn’t hanging around this summer.

With the transfer window opening before the World Cup, Mourinho is looking to do a lot of his work before the tournament kicks off in Russia.

And, according to Duncan Castles writing for the Daily Record, United are already in ‘advanced negotiations’ for three transfer targets.

Castles writes: “Mourinho entered the transfer window focused on improving his defence and midfield with negotiations advanced on Brazil internationals Fred and Alex Sandro, plus Portugal under-21 right back, Diogo Dalot.”

Dalot and Fred have already been heavily linked with a move to the Theatre of Dreams but Sandro has well and truly slipped under the radar.

But Castles articles actually focuses on Gareth Bale.

It’s reported that United are preparing to bid more than €100 million to bring the Welshman back to England.

Bale is open to leaving Spain and, following his heroics in the Champions League final last week, he suggested just that.

“Obviously, I need to be playing week in, week out, and that hasn't happened this season for one reason or another,” Bale said.

"I had about a five-, six-week injury at the start of the season and I've been fit ever since. So obviously now I have to sit down in the summer and discuss it with my agent, and, yeah, we'll take it from there.”

And now it looks as though Mourinho has given the club the green light to make an outrageous bid for the winger.

So that’s Fred, Sandro and Dalot in ‘advanced negotiations’ and a bid being lined up for Bale.

Not bad going from Jose…