English Premiership

Mourinho hoping for two more signings

2018-07-25 07:26

Cape Town - Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho would ideally like to bring in two more players ahead of the new season, but another right-back is not a priority.

READ: United face battle for early points says 'not happy' Mourinho

The Red Devils acted quickly in the transfer market to secure deals for full-back Diogo Dalot, midfielder Fred and goalkeeper Lee Grant.

However, Mourinho finds himself short of options on the right side of defence following an injury to United skipper Antonio Valencia in the pre-season friendly against San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday.

Dalot is only expected to be available in September as he recovers from knee surgery, while Matteo Darmian continues to be linked with a return to Italy after expressing a desire for regular first-team football due to limited opportunities at Old Trafford.

With just 17 days to go before his side's Premier League opener against Leicester, the Portuguese coach wants more competition for places in the first team.

"One thing is what I would like," he told ESPN FC. "Another thing is what is going to happen."

When asked how many signings he was still hoping for, Mourinho replied: "I would get two more players."

The 55-year-old does not expect Valencia to play any further part in the club's pre-season tour of the United States, with games to come against Milan, Liverpool and Real Madrid in the International Champions Cup.

"I don't think he will be available to play any one of the three matches of the International Champions Cup," Mourinho added.

"It's not a moment to take any risks. Antonio is a player that's not a young boy anymore. We have to take care of him and to try to have him ready for the start of the season.

"We bought a fantastic player [Diego Dalot]. Young, 19 years old, but I think probably the best right-back at that age in European football.

"But he had a surgery last May and is recovering for that, so one more reason to take care of Antonio."

Former striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic visited United's training to catch-up with his former team-mates and hinted that a major signing could be in the works.

"Be ready for this season because something special will happen, Ibrahimovic told United's Twitter account. "And I think the boss has something going on, but we'll keep that a secret."

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