‘Manchester United’s poor transfer window proves the board don’t trust Jose Mourinho’s judgement’, talkSPORT told
Former Arsenal star Perry Groves says there is a 'chasm' between the manager and CEO Ed Woodward
Manchester United’s poor summer window shows the club board do not trust Jose Mourinho’s judgement in the transfer market.
That’s the view of former Arsenal winger Perry Groves, who believes Red Devils chiefs have no faith in the manager’s ability to bring the right players to Old Trafford.
Mourinho has been left frustrated after ending the summer window without the top class central defender he craved.
United brought in three players early in the window, completing deals for Brazilian midfielder Fred, Portuguese defender Diogo Dalot and 35-year-old goalkeeper Lee Grant, but Mourinho wanted to land two more big-name signings and ultimately was left empty-handed.
A central-defender was his priority and while the club made enquiries over the likes of Harry Maguire, Raphael Varane, Diego Godin, Toby Alderweireld, Kurt Zouma and Yerry Mina, they could not get a deal over the line in time.
Since the close of the window on Thursday, there have been claims that Mourinho’s transfer wishlist was largely vetoed by club chiefs, with CEO Ed Woodward pulling the strings over the ins and outs at Old Trafford.
And Groves believes the decisions made by the United board this summer directly contradict what they have done in the past with successful signings, due to their mistrust of Mourinho.
Speaking to talkSPORT host Jim White on Friday, the former Gunners star said: “They don’t trust Jose Mourinho’s judgement on players.
“When have you heard Manchester United say, ‘oh no, we’re not buying him because he hasn’t got a sell-on fee’?
“I can’t remember them doing that with Robin van Persie when he was 30, and Sir Alex Ferguson said, ‘we need him, doesn’t matter if it’s one or two seasons, he’ll win us the league’, which he did.
“They had a chance to sign Yerry Mina, but then Man United said, ‘oh, we’re not paying the extortionate agent’s fees’.
“But they didn’t say that about Paul Pogba with Mino Raiola – they didn’t worry about paying him a fortune in agent’s fees!
“There’s an even bigger chasm now between Ed Woodward and Mourinho.”