Mourinho ‘BLOCKED Man Utd chief Woodward’s transfer swoop for Varane and Verratti as they were unattainable’

JOSE MOURINHO reportedly blocked Ed Woodward’s desire to bring Raphael Varane and Marco Verratti to Manchester United last summer. The Manchester Evening News claim that the Red Devils’ executive vice-chairman identified the duo as elite options to strengthen the side. But they state that the Special One snubbed moves for the pair as he believed […]

JOSE MOURINHO reportedly blocked Ed Woodward’s desire to bring Raphael Varane and Marco Verratti to Manchester United last summer.

The Manchester Evening News claim that the Red Devils’ executive vice-chairman identified the duo as elite options to strengthen the side.

But they state that the Special One snubbed moves for the pair as he believed they were ‘unattainable’.

United instead forked out £52million on midfielder Fred from Shakhtar Donetsk, while also bringing in full-back Diogo Dalot from Porto and third-choice goalkeeper Lee Grant.

Mourinho then bemoaned the club for not signing a defender, as he failed in moves to nab Harry Maguire, Toby Alderweireld, Diego Godin and Jerome Boateng.

United would go on to sign Maguire from Leicester for £80million in the summer.

Woodward is no longer involved in the recruitment of players, with MEN insisting he now simply signs off transfer deals.

Matt Judge – head of corporate development at United – is now the man understood to be tasked with negotiating with players and agents.

And Mick Court, who is the club’s technical chief scout, leads the analysis of transfer targets.

Mourinho was sacked in December with the club stuttering in the league, but he is the current favourite to replace Niko Kovac at Bayern Munich after the Croatian was sacked.

Former United midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger has revealed that the ex-Chelsea gaffer always spoke about Bayern during their time together, with Mourinho even learning to speak German.