Manchester United Transfer News: Leonardo Bonucci Wanted Amid Paul Pogba Rumours

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is reportedly eager to sign Juventus centre-back Leonardo Bonucci, as he sees the Italian as "the ideal leader to further reinforce [the Red Devils] spine." 

According to Samuel Luckhurst in the Manchester Evening News, while Mourinho has already secured the signing of centre-back Eric Bailly this summer, he is not confident the 22-year-old will be able to immediately adapt to the Premier League, hence his interest in signing the 29-year-old Bonucci.

Luckhurst added that with United intent on signing Paul Pogba from Juve, the Old Lady is highly unlikely to sell them Bonucci as well, especially as both clubs are "on the same page" over the deal for the Frenchman.

Juve's public reluctance to let Pogba, 23, return to United is reportedly simply to assure their fans they are doing what they can to keep hold of him.

Most recently, Juve have told United to add €10 million (£8.4 million) on to their latest offer for Pogba, which is worth €120 million (£100.2 million) when add-ons are included, per the Guardian's Alan Smith and Fabrizio Romano.

If Pogba does end up back at United, the Manchester outfit's chances of signing Bonucci are effectively nil, especially as Juve reportedly took the defender off the market some time ago, per journalist David Amoyal:

Along with goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and centre-back partners Giorgio Chiellini and Andrea Barzagli, Bonucci is part of arguably the world's best defensive unit, both at Juve and with Italy.

Given Old Lady manager Massimiliano Allegri has already seen Alvaro Morata leave Juve this summer, he would surely not sanction the departure of Bonucci should Pogba depart as well.

During Euro 2016, Bonucci enhanced his already-stellar reputation, proving his abilities both as a rock-solid defender and distributor.

Per WhoScored.com, one of his best assets is his ability to start attacks from deep with his pinpoint passing:

With Chris Smalling, 26, the most senior central defender Mourinho has to call upon in his United squad, Bonucci would add necessary expertise and quality to the Red Devils back line, but he is surely beyond United's reach.

While it is highly unlikely Mourinho and United will get Bonucci, Pogba's return to Old Trafford does seem to be edging closer.