Manchester United chief Woodward is at loggerheads with Mourinho over the club’s transfer business this summer.
Mourinho, not content with Fred, Diago Dalot and Lee Grant, wants more. Watching Manchester City waltz to the easiest of Premier League title triumphs last season has convinced him of that.
But so far, Woodward has refused to appease his Manchester United manager. Some have claimed the money has dried up, while others claim he simply wants Mourinho to sell before buying.
The Daily Mail say that Mourinho wants the club to fork out for Leicester powerhouse Harry Maguire.
Maguire’s stock has never been higher. He signed for the Foxes from Hull for just £17million a year ago and a stellar Premier League campaign, coupled with a fine World Cup, has seen his price tag soar.
Leicester are aware of United’s interest. Express Sport understands that, for all the claims of Maguire wanting to move, the defender and his representatives have so far made no comment on the transfer talk.
As a result, they are happy to drive a hard bargain. It will take a fee of well over £50million for Leicester to even remotely consider taking the negotiation table.
However, the Daily Mail claim that, despite Mourinho wanting Maguire, Woodward may opt for Alderweireld instead.
The Tottenham star remains the source of much discussion. Spurs know that, if they fail to offload him this summer, they face losing him on the cheap in 12 months time.
And Woodward, fed up with Mourinho’s public blasting of himself and the club, may choose to sign Alderweireld instead of Maguire.
How that would go down with Mourinho remains to be seen. The United boss wants two signings but, speaking last night, described ending up with one as ‘fine.’
He said: “I am confident I will get one, but I think two I am not going to get – which is not a drama.
“In every pre-season it happens the same, with every club, which is that the manager wants more.
“It’s our nature, you always want more for your team, but then club decisions are different and normally you don’t get what you want, which happened during all my career.
“So, if I get one player until the end of the market, that’s fine.”