Manchester United transfer news: Jose Mourinho tells Red Devils stars any of them can leave… even for a rival Prem club
JOSE MOURINHO has told his Manchester United players anyone can go in the new year if they want.
And he is even willing to sell to one of his Premier League rivals.
It is a clear message to his squad that “you are either with me or not”. The Special One does not want any restless players in his camp.
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There are plenty right now — most notably Wayne Rooney, who is no longer considered a starter in the Premier League.
Memphis Depay, Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger all seem surplus to requirements.
Marcus Rashford’s star has slipped too.
Old Trafford boss Mourinho said: “I am always open to listen to offers for every player.
“More than listen to offers I am always ready to listen to the players themselves.
“So any player who knocks on my door and is not happy and wants to move, when the offers are correct, I will never stop a player from leaving even if it is to a rival.
“When Mata left Chelsea to come to Manchester United, no problem at all. In my mentality no problem at all. I am always open.”
Mourinho always claims he only sold Mata — who joined United in January 2014 for £37.1million — because the player wanted to go.
Likewise Kevin De Bruyne, who went to Wolfsburg for £18m before returning to the Premier League and Manchester City for £54m.
Luke Shaw, 21, is also in and out of the United side although he currently has a groin injury.
Even when Shaw can play again, his boss wants to see more before putting him in the team.
Mourinho said: “He needs to improve. That is normal, he is a kid. I am not expecting a young player to be perfect.
“A young player makes mistakes, a young players has things to learn, has things to develop. He needs to do that.”
Mourinho wants all those on the sidelines to use Phil Jones as a example of how you can be forgotten one minute and one of the first names on the team sheet the next.
The United chief said: “From my point of view I am happy to keep everyone and everyone will have a chance, sometimes an unexpected chance.
“Sometimes the chance is there, you get it like Jones.
“Unexpectedly you have Eric Bailly out, Chris Smalling out, everybody out and, come the Swansea game, Jones is in — and he is still there.”
So Mourinho is not forcing anyone out the door it is all down to the player, their attitudes and ambitions. He said: “What I can say is I am happy with the squad I have.
“I would like my squad to be my squad until the end of the season and I am not going to any player to say ‘you are going to leave’ because I am not happy or I don't him.
“I’m happy with the players I have, even with players that are not having many chances.”
Henrikh Mkhitaryan is another whose future looked uncertain as Mourinho felt the £30m buy from Borussia Dortmund needed to be stronger.
But with the Armenian scoring twice in two games, Mourinho is now bemoaning an injury which has put him out of action until Boxing Day.
Mourinho was “scared” having seen Danny Rose’s challenge on Mkhitaryan.
Ahead of tonight’s trip to Crystal Palace, the Special One added: “I am not happy but it is football and sometimes you go over the limit.
“It was a big game, hard and a bit nasty bit, it was a game for men. Good game.”
He will hope for another at Selhurst Park and, after eight unbeaten, another step in the right direction.
A direction his players can follow with him or not.