adminMANCHESTER. — Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho is expecting a quiet final few days in the transfer window for his club. Paul Pogba, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Eric Bailly have all arrived at Old Trafford this summer as Mourinho got much of his business done before the start of the season. Southampton defender Jose Fonte had been linked with a move to United, but Saints boss Claude Puel dismissed suggestions the 32-year-old would leave.
And Mourinho insists he is happy with the squad he currently has.
He said: “I have 23 players in the squad and in principle there is nobody leaving and nobody is coming.
“Twenty-three players is more than enough and, if you have a problem or an opportunity, then I have a few young players in the Academy that I will be more than happy to give an acceleration in their process.
“I like Cameron Borthwick-Jackson very much, but he will go to Wolverhampton to play (on loan) because I have Luke Shaw, Marcos Rojo and Daley Blind to play left-back. These are the kind of decisions every club makes.
“I think we are going to have a very quiet week, not surrounded by helicopters waiting for someone to arrive or leave — I am more than happy with the squad I have.”
Mourinho has also warned Bastian Schweinsteiger he is unlikely to play again for Manchester United if he insists on seeing out the remainder of his contract at Old Trafford.
Despite being frozen out by Mourinho and made to train with the reserves, Schweinsteiger has indicated he has no intention of leaving with two years left on his £160 000-a-week deal.
Mourinho conceded the former Germany captain is within his rights to stick to the terms of his contract. But he warned there is no room for him in United’s 23-man squad of outfield players and said he would rather promote youngsters from the academy than play the 32-year-old World Cup winner.
“He (Schweinsteiger) has spoken to me,” said Mourinho.
“I cannot answer for him. It’s his life, his career.
“He has a contract with Man United and a right to make that decision and stay. So that’s not a problem for us.
“Football is made of decisions. I knew that all my career, not just me, everyone does.
“Some players react in a different way and have different kinds of decisions.
“To be honest, Bastian is not speaking a lot. He gave his last statement which he is completely free to do in an objective and polite way.
“But I think it is very difficult for him (to play). I’m not saying it’s impossible. I’m saying it’s very difficult.
“We have a decision completely made about (Paul) Pogba, (Ander) Herrera, (Morgan) Schneiderlin, (Marouane) Fellaini, Michael Carrick. We have five players for two positions. It’s very, very difficult that an opportunity will arise.
“I have 23 players in the squad and in principle nobody is leaving because I don’t want anybody to leave and nobody is coming — 23 players is more than enough.
“If you have any kind of problem or opportunity I have a few young players in the academy that I will be more than happy to give them an acceleration in their process.”
Mourinho has been accused of showing Schweinsteiger a lack of respect by the player’s brother and his former Bayern Munich coach Ottmar Hitzfeld.
Bayern chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge also warned that Schweinsteiger’s treatment might ward off other players from joining United.
But Mourinho responded to his critics by saying: “I thought after I read some quotes from people at Bayern Munich they would run to Manchester to bring him back.
“But, no, that didn’t happen. I’m surprised Mr Rummenigge is not here now.” — The Daily Express.
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