Manchester United transfer news: Jose Mourinho to watch Nikola Milenkovic and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic in person during international break

MANCHESTER UNITED manager Jose Mourinho will watch Fiorentina defender Nikola Milenkovic and Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic in action on Thursday night.

United boss Jose Mourinho will personally run the rule over the pair during the current international with a view to possible January swoops.

After being odds-on to be sacked, Mourinho looks to have bought himself time at Old Trafford after the dramatic win over Newcastle on Saturday.

And with speculation Zinedine Zidane is waiting in the wings to take over, Mourinho will have clear the air talks with Ed Woodward in London ahead of Thursday’s board meeting.

As he did in the summer, the United boss will again insist he needs to beef up his back line and has identified Serbian 20-year-old central defender Milenkovic.

He has impressed in Serie A this term and will be watched when Serbia take on Montenegro on Thursday and the Portuguese will be in attendance.

Mourinho will also use the game to watch his international team-mate Milinkovic-Savic.

The £90million-rated Lazio midfielder is seen as a possible long-term replacement for Paul Pogba who is a reported target for Barcelona.

Milenkovic moved to Florence from Partizan Belgrade in 2017 for a bargain £4m.

But a string of outstanding performances for the Viola has put a host of top European clubs on alert.

The Serbian international’s value will have rocketed in the last 18 months and United could test the Italian side's resolve with a bid during the January window.

Milenkovic has made eight appearances this term and has already hit two goals.

Meanwhile, fellow countryman Nemanja Matic has pulled out of the Serbian squad with an unspecified injury and is a huge doubt for United’s trip to his former club Chelsea on October 20.