Manchester United are to try to wrap up a quick deal for Burnley’s Michael Keane, having seen rivals Manchester City make their first big signing and Jose Mourinho putting executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward under pressure to get his business done.
United are ready to offer £24 million for defender Keane, of which they would keep £6m because of the 25 percent sell-on clause they negotiated with Burnley when they sold the player in 2014.
Manchester City completed their first major purchase of the summer last week by tying up a £43m move for Monaco’s Bernardo Silva and, speaking from the Monaco Grand Prix where he is watching as a fan, Mourinho urged his club to do the same.
“As I promised after the final, I don’t care about football for a month. You have to ask Ed Woodward about signings. He’s known since March who I want.
“Now is for him to work because he will have holidays in August, and in August, I’ll be working.”
United are favourites to re-sign England star Keane, who is a boyhood United fan and was a member of their FA Youth Cup-winning side in 2011 alongside Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard.
Liverpool were considering trying to exploit any unhappiness Keane felt at being sold by United three years ago, but Jurgen Klopp’s main target is Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk.
Keane could complete his move in the next fortnight because he has been left out of the England squad, having missed the end of the Premier League season with a calf injury.
Michael Keane is set to rejoin Manchester United from Burnley. Photo: Reuters
United’s most expensive acquisition would be £80 million France international and prime Mourinho target Antoine Griezmann, but he is sending mixed messages from Atletico Madrid, saying there is a 6/10 chance of him joining United, and then that he has unfinished business in Spain.
Torino striker Andrea Belotti could be an alternative target, and Mourinho also wants a holding midfield player and a left back.
The United manager insisted he would be switching off, having led United to the Europa League title. “I am not even interested the result of the FA Cup final. I don’t care at all,” he said.
“I am really happy with our season, I am really happy with the trophies, I am really happy to be back to Champions League.
“But now is time to have a rest, disconnect completely, do other things and enjoy my family, my friends, enjoy some other sports that I love and forget football. I need that.”