For all his merits, Jose Mourinho is still prone to some bizarre forays into the transfer market and, according to reports today, the Portguese looks set to ask the Manchester United faithful to do something entirely against their nature - to cheer for an ex-Liverpool player.
The Mourinho overhaul at Old Trafford looks set to continue Joe Allen (or the Welsh Xavi if you will...) being linked with a rare move between the two rivals. If this does indeed go ahead, it will be the first direct transfer between the two clubs in more than five decades.
You may recall that ten years ago United's Argentinian defender Gabriel Heinze demanded a transfer to Liverpool, a move which was swiftly shot down by Alex Ferguson but now, in this new era at Old Trafford, it seems that the two clubs are perfectly open to doing business with each other.
NO, NO, NO, Tell me this is a prank! We can not and we should never buy a player directly from @LFC ..@ManUtdhttps://t.co/drjcSwmfti
— Russian Panda 🇷🇺 (@Clem_ManUtdFan) July 18, 2016
Mourinho is currently looking to expand a Manchester United midfield which has stuttered for creativity in recent seassons, though you would suspect that if their Paul Pogba hunt ends in an unsatisfying way for United their fans wouldn't take too kindly to Joe Allen as a Plan B. Swansea and West Ham retain an interest in the Welshman and his marvellous beard.
Liverpool will have a surplus of midfielders too, with Georginio Wijnaldum linked with a move to Merseyside from relegated Newcastle.
Elsewhere, Chelsea's Spanish/Brazilian striker Diego Costa is being linked with a move back to La Liga and has allegedly informed the club's hierarchy of his desire to return to the country in which he made his name. Atletico Madrid, the club with which he won the title in Spain, are favourites to be his next employers.
The neverending rumors that Diego Costa wants to return to Spain continue neverendingly, boringly #CFC #SillySeason https://t.co/ELhub0mv4R
— WAGNH (@WAGNH_CFC) July 16, 2016
If Costa, their primary source of goals, does leave it will force Chelsea's hand in the transfer market and allows Napoli and Real Madrid to up their prices for Gonzalo Higuian and Alvaro Morata - the two chief transfer targets for new boss Antonio Conte.
Chelsea have already boosted their squad with the arrivals of Belgian striker Michy Batshuayi and Leicester's tireless N'Golo Kante, with Napoli central defender Kalidou Koulibaly expected to follow. Conte hopes to tie up a deal for a top striker and a full back before the transfer window grinds to a halt.
Spanish goalkeeper Diego Lopez is also set to join Chelsea as backup to Thibaut Courtois if, as expected, Asmir Begovic finalises a move away from Stamford Bridge with Everton his most likely destination.
