Does Manchester United Want James Rodriguez?

Manchester United are currently pursuing other targets despite being offered the chance to sign Real Madrid midfielder James Rodriguez, sources have said.

Colombia international Rodriguez, 25, is expected to leave Madrid this summer after failing to secure regular football under head coach Zinedine Zidane, who declined to comment on his player’s future earlier on Tuesday.

United have been made aware that the former Monaco playmaker, who cost Real £63 million in August 2014, is available for a fee in the region of £50m, but manager Jose Mourinho has yet to sanction any move for the player.

Rodriguez appeared to wave farewell to the crowd at the Bernabeu by waving to all four corners of the stadium after being substituted against Sevilla at the weekend.

But despite Rodriguez’s availability, sources say Mourinho remains determined to sign Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann and a proven goal scorer before exploring additional attacking options.

United have registered their interest in Torino forward Andrea Belotti, with Everton’s Romelu Lukaku also a player being monitored by Mourinho ahead of his summer rebuilding programme.

While United are expected to spend heavily at the end of the season, no moves are due to be finalised until their Champions League fate becomes clear following next Wednesday’s Europa League final against Ajax in Stockholm.

If United win the competition, they will gain automatic entry into the group stage of next season’s Champions League. However, a defeat against Eredivisie runners-up will consign United to another campaign in the Europa League, which could damage their hopes of landing top targets such as Griezmann.

If the Frenchman proves elusive, United may then consider a move for Rodriguez, but the player is not presently high on Mourinho’s wanted list.