Manchester United transfer news: Paul Pogba linked to Premier League rivals, Mourinho already eying return to former club and more – October 2, 2018

Hello and welcome to the Manchester United transfer roundup for the day! As the headline suggests, today is another cracking day in the house of Manchester United transfer rumours – and we are here to bring you the latest transfer stories about the Red Devils.

So, without further ado, let’s begin!

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#5 Mourinho wants the sack

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is walking around with a cloud of uncertainty over his head as the Red Devils are going through a bad patch from which there seems to be only one way out.

And according to former Chelsea striker and current pundit Chris Sutton, it feels as though the former Real Madrid is asking for the sack. When asked whether Mourinho’s methods of criticizing his own players in the press is creating divisions, he stated that it probably does.

“Yeah, I think it would. Why is he carrying it on today after a dreadful weekend with the club in turmoil and then to come out today and guess what? More uncertainty,” Chris Sutton believes.

He then added that the former Inter’s boss’ actions are just increasing the severity of the storm that has been brewed at the club. As a result, Sutton believes that the former Porto manager should go and that his provocative media press conferences are just his way of asking to be sacked.

“Adding fuel to the fire and everybody’s reading into it. It’s time for Mourinho to go and when I said does he want the sack, I suspect that he does in many respects because he’s an intelligent guy, why would he want to keep carrying it on, and on and on by coming out and being provocative which is what it is.”

Meanwhile, Ray Parlour believes that Mourinho’s strategy of criticising his players in the press isn’t right and that the fans are getting sick of the Portuguese’s ways of handling his own players.

“The manager’s had a go at the players in the press, which I don’t agree with - you can have a go at players but you do it in a dressing room area. The players are now coming and having a go back. It’s so negative and I’m sure Manchester United fans are sick of it.”

#4 Pogba’s threat

Manchester United Training Session

There is no doubt that Paul Pogba is not having the best of times at the Old Trafford – both on and off the field. On the pitch, he seems like a shadow of the player that he was in Turin.

And off it, his problems with manager Jose Mourinho have been well documented. As a result, it won’t be surprising to see Pogba wanting to leave the Theatre of Dreams.

In fact, if this report from The Sun is to be believed, Pogba has threatened to quit the Old Trafford in January if Jose Mourinho doesn’t part ways with Manchester United. The report also adds that the Portuguese has vowed to not play Alexis Sanchez again unless he improves his game.

#3 Snub Zidane

Real Madrid Press Conference

Zinedine Zidane’s name has been popping up very frequently ever since Jose Mourinho’s place at the hot seat at the Old Trafford has become insecure. However, there seems to be a twist in this tale as well.

According to Il Corriere Dello Sport (via TeamTalk), Manchester United are ready to abandon the idea of bringing the three-time Champions League-winning former Real Madrid manager.

Instead, they wish to replace Jose Mourinho with Antonio Conte and also bring in Beppe Marotta to unite the duo at the Old Trafford.

#2 Mourinho back to Real

Manchester United Training and Press Conference

This is the stuff of either your best dreams or your worst nightmares, depending on which side of the divide you are in. A part of the Madrid fanbase absolutely adored Jose Mourinho – and still do – and would perhaps be happy with his.

The other half? Not so much.

According to Don Balon, Mourinho is the favorite to be the first manager sacked in the Premier League but the Portuguese is calm given that he will get a nice settlement pay should United sack him.

They have also added that the former Madrid tactician has called the Blancos to let them know that he won’t mind coming back to the Bernabeu should Julen Lopetegui be sacked.

#1 Possible Pogba destinations

Manchester United Training Session

As you may have figured already, today is more like Paul Pogba transfer roundup of the day rather than Manchester United transfer roundup. With almost every story about the Frenchman, it is safe to admit that he is the most popular name in the transfer mill.

While Barcelona is being touted as his next destination, L’Equipe have thrown in some nice flavours to this recipe. They seem to believe that along with the Catalans, Juventus, PSG and – quite surprisingly – Chelsea could also be a potential next club for the World Cup-winning midfielder.

Although, they do admit that Sarri could find it difficult to find a role for him in the team while also keeping Kante’s attacking plays untouched.