The new Barnsley manager was number two to his Manchester United counterpart at various clubs.
New Barnsley manager Jose Morais has refused to rule out using his contacts – notably Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho – to recruit players at Oakwell.
Morais, who worked as Mourinho’s assistant at Porto, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Chelsea, was appointed as Paul Heckingbottom’s Barnsley successor on Friday.
The 52-year-old has signed an 18-month contract with the Reds, whom he will aim to help escape the Championship’s relegation places in the final three months of the campaign.
From then on, Morais can concentrate on reshaping the squad he inherited from Heckingbottom at Oakwell, and that could include taking players from former colleagues and clubs, including Mourinho and Manchester United.
Asked if he will be able to utilise his vast list of contacts during the summer transfer window – and beyond, the Portuguese told BBC Radio Sheffield: “You always can use your friends in the moments that you need, so if (we) need I am certain that I will have all of them helping.”
Barnsley, with whom ex-Manchester United youngsters Danny Drinkwater (now Chelsea), Ben Pearson (Preston North End) and Ashley Fletcher (Sunderland, on loan from Middlesbrough) gained vital experience, currently employ Red Devils academy product Zeki Fryers.
Which players would you like to see Morais target for Barnsley?
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