Jose Mourinho will hold “clear the air talks” with Manchester United’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward in London over the coming days, according to a report from the Sun.
United launched a stunning comeback against Newcastle in their final game before the international break, with the Red Devils rallying from 2-0 down to score thrice in the final 20 minutes, including a 90th minute winner from Alexis Sanchez.
All of that came amid growing speculation that Mourinho was about to be fired as United’s manager after their worst-ever start to a Premier League season.
But, per the report, Mourinho will sit down with Woodward in the coming days to talk things over ahead of a meeting between United’s board of directors on Thursday. It is believed Mourinho will use the meeting to gain assurances from Woodward that United are not lining up a new manager behind his back (both Zinedine Zidane and Antonio Conte have been linked with the job), plus he will ask for a new center back and winger in the January transfer window.
Woodward and United’s board have already given Mourinho over $450 million to spend on new players since he arrived in the summer of 2016, so they will no doubt be hesitant about giving him extra cash. However, it is clear that some of his defensive buys just haven’t worked out and they clearly need reinforcements in that area.
As for the Portuguese coach and his recent behavior, United’s board will surely discuss his public falling out with Paul Pogba and several other stars being criticized by Mourinho with the dressing room said to be turning against him. Add in United crashing out of the League Cup to second-tier Derby County and being six points off the top spot already, and Mourinho may have quite a few questions heading his way.
Let’s see what the next few days bring, as a meeting between Mourinho and Woodward will go a long way to deciding how his future will play out at Old Trafford.
