Jose Mourinho may well delve into the Manchester United coffers to recruit new players in the transfer window. But if he is about to loosen the purse strings, he isn’t saying too much about it.
For the Old Trafford gaffer is remaining tight-lipped, to a degree, over the prospect of bolstering his squad to hand United a boost going in to the second half of the campaign.
Mourinho is preparing his side for their festive matches at home to Sunderland on Boxing Day and then United host Middlesbrough on New Year’s Eve — both games are 3pm kick-offs.
The Portuguese boss will look to help his side build on the 2-0 win over West Bromwich Albion at the weekend, but although not being overly candid about targets, he acknowledges that the window could be significant.
He said:
“I’m quiet and calm. I’ll see what happens As I have said, I like to keep my squad the same, but as I told you and I repeat, as a manager I never feel that I have the right to stop people trying to be happier and trying to give a different direction to their careers.”
“If it is right for the club and that moment arrives during the month of January, then we will have to react. Let’s see what happens but at the moment, if you ask me if I am waiting for someone to be here on 1 January or if we are chasing some player because we want to have a new player, not at all.”
Meanwhile, United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who scored both goals in the win over the Baggies, says he has the ability, physicality and mindset to play until he is 50.
He said:
“I’m settling in, I feel happy, I feel good. Even if I am 35, in my mind I am 20. I think I can play also at 50! But the older I get, the better — like the wine. You like wine? It’s the perfect example.”