Man Utd transfer news: Jose Mourinho wants Nemanja Matic to play key role in signing

Manchester United boss Mourinho is eager to lure Milenkovic away from Fiorentina when the transfer window reopens in January.

The Red Devils boss wants a centre-back at the earliest opportunity, having been denied one in the summer. Toby Alderweireld, Harry Maguire, Yerry Mina, Jerome Boateng and Diego Godin all stayed at their current clubs, despite Mourinho’s interest.

Manchester United are, though, in need of reinforcements at the back.

Chris Smalling and Victor Lindelof shipped two more goals against Chelsea on Saturday, while question marks over the ability of Phil Jones and Eric Bailly remain.

Mourinho personally watched Milenkovic during the international break.

And The Sun say the 55-year-old wants Matic to help lure the player to the Premier League.

Milenkovic and Matic are both regulars for Serbia.

And The Sun’s report suggests Mourinho will use the United star to try and get this deal over the line.

Fiorentina want £40million to consider letting the 21-year-old depart.

And Juventus, not content with their already formidable squad, are also eyeing a transfer.

He is not, though, the only Serbian star the Red Devils are tracking.

Mourinho is also a long-term admirer of Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and would love to land the Lazio bulldozer.

The player’s agent Mateja Kezman, however, recently insisted his client was happy at the Stadio Olimpico.

“Sergei’s very happy at Lazio, I’ve said it several times and I repeat it,” Kezman told Corriere dello Sport.

“He’s worn the Biancoceleste shirt for three years and he loves the club as they brought him to Italy, just as he loves his fans and teammates.

“If he stayed, it’s because he believes in these colours. I’ve already said many times that we received many offers, but the idea of Lotito and Tare, from the beginning, was to keep Milinkovic for another year.

“It was figuring out how to do it. We worked on it and ultimately Sergej said he was very happy to stay for another season.

“We’re not people who only think about money.”