75 Percent Of Our Transfers Done – Mourinho

Jose Mourinho says Manchester United’s transfer dealing are “75 percent done,” with only the signing of a midfielder left on his initial to-do list.

Speaking in Shanghai after United lost their first game in the International Champions Cup 4-1 to Borussia Dortmund, the United boss said his plans have not changed since he took over the club.

“I said at the first press conference at Old Trafford, our market has a fundamental part. And that fundamental part is four players: one central defender, one midfielder, one striker, and one creative player,” Mourinho said.

“And when we finish that fundamental market we are balanced. Maybe today you don’t feel it but no [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic, no [Marouane] Fellaini, no [Anthony] Martial, no [Morga] Schneiderlin. So lots of them who are not here yet.”

Jose Mourinho says Manchester United’s transfer dealing are “75 percent done,” with only the signing of a midfielder left on his initial to-do list.

Speaking in Shanghai after United lost their first game in the International Champions Cup 4-1 to Borussia Dortmund, the United boss said his plans have not changed since he took over the club.

“I said at the first press conference at Old Trafford, our market has a fundamental part. And that fundamental part is four players: one central defender, one midfielder, one striker, and one creative player,” Mourinho said.

“And when we finish that fundamental market we are balanced. Maybe today you don’t feel it but no [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic, no [Marouane] Fellaini, no [Anthony] Martial, no [Morga] Schneiderlin. So lots of them who are not here yet.”

Mourinho has already signed a striker in Ibrahimovic as well as a centre-back in Eric Bailly and a “creative player” in Henrikh Mkhitaryan, leaving just the midfielder as the piece of the puzzle still missing.

United have acknowledged reports of their pursuit of Paul Pogba, but while Mourinho did not mention the Juventus player by name, he said there was still time to land a quality player.

“Then, the market will be open until the 31st of August, and sometimes things happen that you are not expecting, and we have to react,” Mourinho said.

“But our fundamental market is 75 percent done. And when we sign one midfield player that crucial work will be done.”

As for the defeat to Dortmund, Mourinho said it was abundantly clear that the German club were much farther along in their summer training than United.

“I know that in preseason the team that is in advanced stage of the preparation looks better than the other team,” Mourinho said. “It happens year after year, some good teams to lose in big results, but I think it was too obvious. It was too obvious.

“If we don’t know, after 10 minutes we know that one team started training 10 days ago and played one match and one team started one month ago and played already four. So easy to see that — the difference in intensity and sharpness. So for us it was very difficult.

“I think in the second half [Dortmund] more adapted to the game. I think 3-2 would be more natural than 4-1, but I think they showed a good quality they have individually and collectively and they showed they are in a much [more] advanced stage than our preparation.”

United’s next friendly is in Beijing against Manchester City, who then travel onto Shenzhen to face Dortmund — a match Tuchel’s side approach in fine fettle.

“I am very happy about the result,” Borussia coach Tuchel said. “It is only preseason so there’s a long way to go and lots to achieve in the future.

“We only arrived in Shanghai yesterday. Hopefully we will continue to play very well.”