José Mourinho was lying in the park, contemplating the clouds. There was one that looked a little like a horse; another that, if he put his mind to it, he could reimagine as an airplane hangar, or perhaps a museum to managerial excellence. Nah, he finally thought, one mustn’t kid oneself. One has to admit when a cloud isn’t what one wants it to be. And that got Mourinho back to thinking about Manchester United’s midfield.
Then, eureka! That lad who runs the midfield for Watford looks the real deal and, what is more, he has played with Paul Pogba in the past, albeit in a France Under-17 team that was knocked out of the European Championships by an England featuring Ross Barkley and Josh McEachran. And so, United are planning a summer swoop for Abdoulaye Doucouré. The fact that Spurs and Arsenal also want him is hardly a snag.
Paris Saint-Germain are eager to atone for their latest Champions League embarrassment. They are preparing to offer a lucrative new home to Marouane Fellaini. It’s hard to see how those two statements tally, but that’s how they roll. United, meanwhile, were mighty impressed by Raphaël Varane’s display as Real quashed PSG and that has hardened Mourinho’s desire to hook up with the centre-back again. An offer of around £60m is said to be in the pipeline. That’s nearly two Victor Lindelöfs!
Liverpool are plotting serious reinforcements. Right after they wave away Emre Can they’ll make renewed efforts to sign Monaco’s Thomas Lemar and will laugh off West Ham and Arsenal’s attempts to beat them to Benfica’s 23-year-old midfielder Bryan Cristante.
Mario Balotelli has let it be known he would consider offers of a return to Italy from Nice, with Juve and Napoli among the clubs that appeal.
Gareth Southgate is reportedly considering an England call-up for Brighton’s 34-year-old striker Glenn Murray, the dream presumably being to pair him with Jermain Defoe.
Never let it be said that Arsene Wenger does not know when it is time for a former great to stand down: he will soon tell Petr Cech that fresh blood is needed, so Arsenal are eyeing Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Bernd Leno.
Wolves, so good that they’re three point ahead of Neil Warnock’s Cardiff City, are already preparing for life in the Premier League and are willing to do battle with Monaco and Sevilla for the services of Milan striker André Silva.
Finally, Oxford United are in talks with Patrick Kluivert over the club’s vacant managerial position.