The Sevilla sporting director could be Old Trafford bound, according to reports in Spain.
Sevilla celebrate beating Liverpool in the Europa League final
Monchi, the mastermind behind Sevilla’s transfer window success, is bound for Manchester United according to AS.
The 47-year-old counts Dani Alves, Ivan Rakitic and Carlos Bacca among the many who’ve passed through his hands while netting him a pretty penny (£152 million in profit alone says one report) in doing so.
Could Monchi bring his magic wand to Old Trafford? Here are three of signings who’d be perfect for Jose Mourinho’s team:
3) Steven N’Zonzi
N’Zonzi tussles with Neymar
United have already been linked with the Frenchman’s midfield partner Grzegorz Krychowiak this summer, but could N’Zonzi himself do the trick? At 6ft 3, the 27-year-old is of a similar stature to Nemanja Matic, a key man for Mourinho’s Chelsea last year, and with a reported £21 million release clause inserted by Monchi a year ago, would be considerably cheaper than his Polish comrade. If the former Stoke City man is lucky, his old house in Cheshire is still going.
2) Sergio Rico
Rico celebrates
A tall, wiry Spanish goalkeeper whose initial rise owed much to the unavailability of others (in this case, Beto and Mariano Barbosa): Sound familiar? Since seizing his opportunity at the start of last season, Rico has established himself as one of La Liga’s finest young shot-stoppers and features in Vicente Del Bosque’s squad for the upcoming European Championship. Sevilla handed the 22-year-old a new three-year contract earlier in 2016, which contains a reported buyout clause of £23 million – slightly more than what the Red Devils paid for their perennial Real Madrid target David De Gea.
1) Sergio Ramos
Ramos gestures
If reports are true, the Real Madrid defender was a primary target for United during last summer’s transfer window, but later signed a new five-year deal at the Bernabeu and secured the captain’s armband following the departure of Iker Casillas. That said, at the age of 30, and having lifted the Champions League for the second time in three seasons on Saturday, Ramos may feel he’s achieved all he can and fancy a change of scenery before it’s too late. The arrival of Monchi, who oversaw the Sevilla youth system from which Ramos emerged, could swing a deal in favour of the Reds – though his soured relationship with Mourinho may kill that dream before it’s begun.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
