Manchester United transfer news: Jose Mourinho hoping Danny Drinkwater will follow Paul Pogba back to Old Trafford

Drinkwater joined United at the age of nine but made no first-team appearances

Jack Austin
Wednesday 21 September 2016 11:06 BST
Comments
(Getty Images)

Your support helps us to tell the story

This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.

The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.

Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.

After the return of Paul Pogba to Old Trafford for a world-record £89m this summer, Manchester United are interested in bringing yet another former trainee back to the club.

Leicester City star Danny Drinkwater is a shock £30m target for Jose Mourinho when the January transfer window opens, according the Sun.

The United boss spent around £150m on four summer arrivals as Pogba was joined by £30m Eric Bailly, £26m Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Zlatan Ibrahimovic on a free.

However, Mourinho is still reportedly unimpressed with his midfield options after they were overrun during the 2-1 defeat to rivals Manchester City.

There is money available for the England international to return to the north-west should Mourinho pursue his interest in the Manchester-born midfielder further.

Drinkwater joined the Red Devils at the age of nine but never made a first-team appearance as he was sent out on loan to Huddersfield, Cardiff City, Watford and Barnsley before joining Leicester for a nominal fee in January 2012.

(Getty Images
(Getty Images (Getty Images)

Mourinho has had problems finding Pogba’s best position, whether it is in a more attacking role or as a box to box midfielder but he believes Drinkwater’s arrival would allow the Frenchman more freedom to push forward.

However, the Foxes would not want to allow the 26-year-old to leave having tied him to a new five-year deal worth £90,000-a-week and it would be even tougher to prize Drinkwater away should Leicester qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League.

United will be willing to offer wages of around £150,000-a-week to bring him back and should the move materialise, it would mirror Pogba’s return and mean United would have splurged out nearly £120m on two players they allowed to leave for next to nothing.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in