London // Jose Mourinho's first signing for Manchester United looks set to be highly-rated young Ivory Coast international defender Eric Bailly and not veteran Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic according to British media reports.
The 22-year-old Villarreal defender -- who scored one of the penalties in the penalty shootout which saw Ivory Coast win the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations -- will cost United a reported 30million pounds (38.4million euros, $43.7million).
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Bailly, who moved to Spain aged just 17 when he joined Villarreal’s rivals Espanyol, impressed last season as his side conceded just 35 goals in 38 league matches and also reached the Europa League semi-finals.
Bailly -- who cost Villarreal just £4.4million when he joined from Espanyol last year -- will have to work on his discipline on the pitch as he was booked 10 times last term and sent off once.
Ibrahimovic has been linked with a move to United -- having left French champions Paris Saint Germain at the end of the season just finished -- as he enjoyed a good relationship with Mourinho at Italian side Inter Milan.
However, the 34-year-old -- presently in training with the Swedish squad for Euro 2016 -- has toyed with questioners who have asked him if he was joining United.
TOTTENHAM
Tottenham have been granted permission to speak to AZ Alkmaar striker Vincent Janssen. Janssen is one of Europe’s most exciting young forwards, having scored 27 goals in 34 matches in the Eredivisie last season.
A transfer fee is yet to be agreed between the clubs, but AZ have allowed the 21-year-old to hold talks with Spurs and he arrived in London on Tuesday.
Several teams have expressed an interest in Janssen, who already has five caps for Holland, but Mauricio Pochettino’s side are the first he has spoken to this summer.
AZ are believed to want around £12million for their top goalscorer, a fee unlikely to deter Spurs, although negotiations are ongoing around additional performance-related payments.
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