Influential football agent Mino Raiola holds the key to Manchester United’s recruitment success this summer, according to the Manchester Evening News.
The report suggests Manchester United are determined to sign three of Raiola’s clients in this transfer window – Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
Ibrahimovic has been heavily linked with a free transfer to Manchester United this summer, with most news outlets agreeing that the deal is practically done.
Pogba, who left United for Juventus in controversial circumstances 4 years ago, is believed to be Mourinho’s top midfield target in this transfer window.
However, if United want to bring Pogba back to Old Trafford, they’d have to convince Juventus to sell their prized asset, which would be far from easy.
Mkhitaryan looked certain to leave Borussia Dortmund this summer as he’s refused to extend his deal with the German giants, but the club’s CEO, Hans-Joachim Watzke, confirmed the club’s decision to keep the Armenian for the last year of his contract, even if it means losing him on a free transfer next summer.
“We’ve been negotiating [a new deal] with Henrikh Mkhitaryan for four months,” Watzke told BILD. “We now know he won’t sign an extension. There was never a promise that he could leave us early.”
However, Raiola has publicly stated his client’s desire to move to Manchester United this summer, which is likely to have angered the German club as the agent’s statement could be perceived as a way to force Mkhitaryan’s way out of the club.
“Man Utd is a unique opportunity,” Raiola said. “Micky wants to go there.”
It appears as though way too many things depend on the 48-year old agent this summer and he could make or break Manchester United’s reported transfer plans.
