Man United's XI would be frightening if Jose Mourinho had landed his main targets

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By Dov Rawson

Published Aug 10, 2018

Ed Woodward has a lot to answer for

The 2018/19 Premier League season kicks off this weekend but Jose Mourinho is not a happy man.

Despite finishing 19 points adrift of their local rivals, Manchester United only brought in Fred, Diogo Dalot and Lee Grant over the summer transfer window.

The Red Devils were desperately trying to sign a centre-back before the window closed.

Harry Maguire, Toby Alderweireld, Jerome Boateng, Yerry Mina and Diego Godin were all heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford.

Man United chiefs reportedly vetoed Mourinho's targets as they believed he was "targeting defenders who were no better than those they already had."

The former Chelsea boss has clearly become very frustrated with Ed Woodward's inability to deliver signings.

So how would Man United line up if Mourinho had landed the players he desired?

GK: David De Gea

In May, the world-class Spanish goalkeeper won Manchester United’s Player of the Year award for the fourth time in five seasons.

LB: Alex Sandro

The highly-rated Juventus full-back has been heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford but the club decided not to strengthen this position once again.

Ashley Young and Luke Shaw will fight for the left-back spot instead.

CB: Eric Bailly

The Ivorian international was signed by Mourinho for £30m in 2016 and fans consider him to be the best centre-back at the club.

CB: Harry Maguire

The 25-year-old impressed Mourinho at the 2018 World Cup and the Portuguese coach encouraged Ed Woodward to spend big on him.

Leicester City reportedly wanted close to £75m and, despite Mourinho's protests, the Man United chiefs elected to pass.

RB: Antonio Valencia

The Ecuadorian wing-back, who recently turned 33, has been one of the most reliable players during Mourinho's two-year reign in Manchester.

CM: Nemanja Matic

Chelsea let the Serbian defensive midfielder leave for £35m last summer - and he enjoyed a remarkably consistent debut season at Old Trafford.

CM: Paul Pogba

Mourinho splashed out £89m in 2016 to make the Frenchman United's club-record signing.

Pogba was linked with a move to Barcelona earlier this week but the United board never had any intention of selling him.

CM: Fred

After a £52m deal was struck with Shakhtar Donetsk before the World Cup, the Brazilian midfielder agreed to join Man United.

He's the only summer signing expected to be an important member of the first team.

LW: Ivan Perisic

The Croatian winger almost joined the Red Devils in 2017 but Woodward baulked at paying Inter Milan's £45m asking price.

After a brilliant World Cup, Perisic is now worth almost double that figure. If he joined, it's unlikely that Alexis Sanchez would've arrived in January.