With the summer transfer window closed, Jose Mourinho has one eye to January in case he needs to make improvements.
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho
Manchester United are monitoring a list of January targets that is topped by AS Monaco full-back Fabinho and Real Madrid’s Raphael Varane reports the Manchester Evening News.
Mourinho has long been a fan of France international Varane, after their time together at Real Madrid, and the Frenchman was convinced to stay in the Spanish capital this summer, despite losing his place alongside Sergio Ramos in the centre of defence towards the end of last season.
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It was reported by The Sun that United offered Varane a chance to double his wages to move to Old Trafford before the end of the transfer window only for the centre-back to decide to remain at Madrid. But if the Frenchman fails to regain his place from Portuguese defender Pepe in the coming months, Varane may reconsider his position and give Zinedine Zidane the news he doesn’t want to hear.
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But Varane is not the only target at the top of Manchester United’s wanted list that they are keeping tabs on. Another of Mourinho’s long-term targets, Monaco’s Fabinho is also viewed as priority. The 22-year-old has been tracked by the Manchester United manager all summer as United were hoping to add the Brazilian to their squad before the close of Wednesday’s transfer deadline.
Mourinho knows Fabinho from the loan spell that the Monaco player spent at Real Madrid in 2012, and like Varane, the United manager has long-term admirer of the defender and will look to ensure he is added to the ranks at Old Trafford come January.
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