Douglas Costa to United: Manchester United are preparing for their first post-Jose Mourinho signing in January.
Manchester United have had an eventful week. After a crushing 3-1 defeat to Liverpool, the club parted ways with Jose Mourinho, and appointed former club star Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as the interim manager till the end of the season.
Solskjaer has been the coach for Manchester United’s youth team in the past, before entering management with Norwegian side Molde.
He was appointed as head coach of Cardiff City in 2014, but faced a disappointing spell. He returned to Molde a year later, where he spent three seasons, before coming back to Manchester United to assume the responsibility as first-team coach.
And it is expected that Manchester United are set to make their first signing in the post-Jose Mourinho era.
Douglas Costa to United:
The club faced a dire transfer window at the beginning of the season, and former manager Jose Mourinho was critical of the board for the lack of transfer activity.
But it has been reported that the club is gearing for the January transfer window, and one of the first names on the club’s list is Juventus’ Douglas Costa.
United will give interim boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer £50m to spend in January, with Douglas Costa and Tottenham centre-back Toby Alderweireld the main targets. #MUFC 🔴🇾🇪 pic.twitter.com/Jy9uMwxeH4
— MUFC Latest News (@MUFCNEWS1968) December 20, 2018
The winger has played 353 minutes across the 11 Serie A games, and has spent the new season being second-fiddle to Cristiano Ronaldo.
Costa joined Juventus on loan from Bayern Munich last season, and made the move permanent at the beginning of 2018/19.
Mourinho learned United were planning to try and sign Douglas Costa and a centre-back in January, hours before he was sacked. #mufc [Mail]
— United Xtra (@utdxtra) December 19, 2018
According to German outlet BILD, Manchester United are monitoring Costa’s situation at the club, and the report claims that he’s available for €40m.
I like Douglas Costa but I’m not in favor of buying a 28 year old winger for top fee’s while there are younger and in my opinion equally as qualified players available in said price range
Costa is quality but not world class
I’d rather see United go all out for Pepe
— Mike (@UtdExcellence) December 19, 2018
The English media outlet, Sun has also reported that the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo has confined the playing time for Douglas Costa, and the winger is currently contemplating his long-term future at the Serie A side.
Manchester United will give interim boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer £50m to spend in January, with Juventus winger Douglas Costa and Tottenham centre-back Toby Alderweireld the main targets. (Daily Mirror) pic.twitter.com/OPqQgQ3iyD
— TransferNewsCentral (@TransferNewsCen) December 20, 2018
What next?
Manchester United will return to action for the first time since the departure of Jose Mourinho on Saturday night, as they face Cardiff City.
Honestly, that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer interview was such a breath of fresh air and music to my ears. He gets the club, he understands the culture of the club and he absolutely loves the club. I am buzzing for Cardiff on Saturday. Come on United! 🇾🇪 #mufc
— United Xtra (@utdxtra) December 20, 2018
It is will also be a homecoming of sorts for Solskjaer, as the Norwegian had been the head coach of the Bluebirds.
