Manchester United are ready to make a complete squad overhaul this summer as Jose Mourinho, the current manager is desperate to improve every aspect of the squad. He is looking at a number of players like Victor Lindelof, Michael Keane, Virgil van Dijk and Jose Gimenez to add to his defence but the latest name on the wish list for Mourinho is Real Madrid star Pepe.
Reports earlier suggested that the Portuguese international is close to a move to PSG, but it is now revealed that he is still open for a move to Old Trafford. At 34, he has not been able to get into the first team under Zinedine Zidane, and constant injuries that he has picked up have also not helped his cause.
Since joining the Bernabeu outfit from FC Porto back in 2007, Pepe has 229 senior appearances for the club and numerous trophies to go with it. However, he has just 13 league appearances this season and is fed up with the lack of game time under the new manager.
He is out of a contract at the end of the season and it does not look like Real Madrid are ready to offer him a new one. His agent is already working on his next destination and Old Trafford is not a bad option at all.
For starters, a reunion with Mourinho will attract both parties. Having worked together in their time at the Bernabeu not so long ago, the duo is accustomed to each other and are sure to build a rapport at Old Trafford that can help the whole club.
Mourinho spent on Eric Bailly in the summer before the start of the season and he has not disappointed the manager. But the likes of Phil Jones and Chris Smalling have failed to cement their places alongside Bailly and constant injuries saw Mourinho stick with Marcos Rojo or Daley Blind at the back.
Though the duo has been decent this season at the back, Mourinho needs a top-class centre-back to allow him to build a strong foundation for his team and Pepe could be a tremendous choice. His experience at the highest level and his winning mentality are both necessary to the United squad next season and coming in for free of cost, the Portuguese defender could solve a lot of problems at Old Trafford.
He has been injury prone this season and that will surely haunt Mourinho when spending on him in the summer but with enough backup in the squad already, Mourinho might be able to go into the next team with buying just one defender in Pepe. But do you think United can land Pepe next season?
