Manchester United Transfer News: Mikel John Obi, Danny Drinkwater Rumours Emerge

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is reportedly set to make a shock move to sign Chelsea outcast Mikel John Obi in January. 

According to Neil Custis in the Sun, the defensive midfielder is likely to be available for just £2 million in the new year as his current Blues contract expires at the end of the season and there are no plans to extend.

Per Custis, Mourinho wants to add the Nigeria international to his squad to play in a deep-lying role in front of the defence in order to free up Paul Pogba to roam further forward.

The BBC's Neil Henderson provided the Sun's back-page splash:

Michael Carrick is the best option United have in the defensive-midfield role, but at 35 years old, he cannot play every match. Mourinho also seems reluctant to field Morgan Schneiderlin—that's a mistake, according to Bleacher Report’s Sam Tighe:

Mikel has not played a minute of senior football at Chelsea this season under manager Antonio Conte, but he is still just 29, and Mourinho likely feels he would be a good foil for star man Pogba.

United thought they had signed Mikel 10 years ago from Lyn Oslo, but he eventually moved to Chelsea after the Blues compensated the Red Devils with £12 million, per BBC Sport.

It could be that they finally get their man at the beginning of 2017 and, despite United being a Premier League rival, Chelsea may be open to letting Mikel move to Old Trafford as he has not been a key part of their squad for some time.

PAUL ELLIS/Getty Images

Per Custis, Mourinho has turned his interest to Mikel—who he managed previously at Chelsea—having accepted that signing Danny Drinkwater in January is unlikely given Leicester City have qualified for the knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League.

The Portuguese manager remains interested in the £30 million-rated Englishman, though, and he could move for him next summer, but Mikel may be a valuable stopgap option given his immense experience.

Leicester's Champions League heroics this season have been in contrast to their Premier League struggles as they lie 14th in the English top flight.

If United can force themselves into the top four by the end of the term and qualify for next season’s Champions League, they will be an attractive destination for Drinkwater in the summer.