Man Utd Transfer News Live: Mourinho on Chelsea and injuries, Real Madrid's Morata claim

MANCHESTER UNITED TRANSFER NEWS: LIVE UPDATES ON MOURINHO’S PLANS

Thursday July 20

07.45: Alvaro Morata will know he was Chelsea’s second choice striker target this summer, according to Adrian Clarke.

Morata was originally wanted by Manchester United until they signed Romelu Lukaku and Clarke says the Spaniard deserves praise for swallowing his pride.

“I’d imagine Chelsea fans are really pleased because this is a good signing in my opinion,” he said on talkSPORT.

“He is, and he knows this, second choice behind Romelu Lukaku. 

“Everybody knows they were massively in for a return for Romelu. 

“They didn’t get him and they’ve gone straight for Morata, he was meant to go to Man United.”

07:30: Manchester United may be set to agree a pact with Barcelona over a deal to sign Neymar.

PSG have been heavily linked with the 25-year-old, who on Tuesday was said to have agreed a £133m, five-year contract at the Parc des Princes.

Those reports have been denied and Spanish outlet Diario Gol claim that has opened the door for United to show their interest.

According to the report, Neymar will remain at Barca for one more season before then heading to Old Trafford.

However, United will have to pay in excess of Neymar’s current £196m release clause as it is due to rise above £200m next summer.

07:15: Jose Mourinho has admitted Manchester United may struggle to secure the four singings he wants this summer.

United have already spent £100m on Romelu Lukaku and Victor Lindelof in the transfer window.

Mourinho wants two more recruits but has accepted deals will be difficult, especially with the number of injured players in his squad.

“The problem is we have four players [Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Ashley Young, Luke Shaw and Marcos Rojo] that cannot play football now,” Mourinho said. “Not even training.

“So it looks like our group is big but it is not because they can’t even train and the time for their recovery is really long. Look at Marcos, no chance before December as an example, so our squad is not so big. Everybody knows because I told, very objective, I would like four players, I asked for four players.

“And I’m ready to go from four to three because the market is difficult, some clubs think the market is different from others. We are not a club that is not ready to buy and buy and buy non-stop, we are not a club that is ready to pay what the clubs want us to pay so I’m ready to go from four to three.

“And maybe three gives us a better balance for the squad and the team, and better conditions to compete.”

07:00 More reaction to the news that Alvaro Morata is heading to Chelsea.

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho earmarked Morata as a viable target before snapping up Romelu Lukaku from Everton.

Asked about his former club, the boss said: “I’m not interested in what Chelsea does, really.

“With Chelsea it was obvious they were going to sign a striker after the situation with the manager and Diego (Costa).

“We needed a striker, so yes, we needed one even with Zlatan in his best conditions, we needed one to give cover, give options.”

06:30: Alvaro Morata has spoken out about his impending move to Chelsea.

The Spaniard was wanted at Manchester United and looked set for a move before the club muscled in on Romelu Lukaku.

Lukaku’s £75m capture meant United had no need to trail Morata, with the player subsequently facing another season on the Real Madrid bench.

But he has expressed his relief that a move to the Premier League is finally about to come off.

“I am very happy, God willing, tomorrow I will be at Chelsea, a club that has always wanted me,” he said.

“I’m not disappointed about anything, I’ve won four titles here [with Real Madrid], but now I only think of putting on the Chelsea shirt.

“I want to grow up, if I didn’t I wouldn’t have left. I’d like to thank Zidane and wish him luck for the upcoming season.

“Thanks to all the Madridistas who supported me. I will always wish Madrid the best. The last time I wore this shirt was in Cibeles.”