Manchester United manager Mourinho targets Pjanic16:31, 3 JUN 2016 UPDATED 16:58, 3 JUN 2016
BY SAMUEL LUCKHURST
Roma midfielder Miralem Pjanic impressed against Man Utd in pre-season two years ago and Jose Mourinho wants to sign the Bosnian.
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho wants to sign Roma midfielder Miralem Pjanic as he sets about reinforcing the team's spine. Pjanic, 26, is contracted to the Serie A side until 2018 and United's interest could convince them to cash in on Pjanic this summer. The Bosnia and Herzegovina international, who can play as a playmaker or in a deep-lying role, made his mark against United in a 2014 friendly in Denver when he lobbed goalkeeper Ben Amos from the halfway line in Roma's 3-2 defeat. Pjanic would also be able to report for pre-season duty at Carrington on July 4, since the Eastern Europeans did not qualify for the Euro 2016 finals. The possible acquisition of Pjanic would plunge Juan Mata's United future into further doubt, given their similarities. Mourinho wants to sign at least four players during his first summer transfer window in charge of United and has identified a right midfielder, a centre forward, a central midfielder and a centre-back as priorities in his attempt to guide the Reds to a 21st English title.
Mourinho is also intent on clinching the signings early, having sealed the key acquisitions of Nemanja Matic, Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa before the 2014 World Cup. Chelsea went on to win the 2014-15 Premier League title.
As Chelsea manager last year, Mourinho was left frustrated by the club's slow recruitment and was even understood to have been against the signing of Pedro from Barcelona, but was overruled by owner Roman Abramovich.
United's scouts are believed to have been monitoring Mourinho targets in recent months. United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward sent scouts to watch Renato Sanches following a conversation with the Benfica midfielder's agent, Jorge Mendes, earlier this year and United could have signed the teenager a week before he joined Bayern Munich.
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/man-utd-transfer-news-pjanic-11424899#ICID=sharebar_twitter
