Manchester United Target Alex Sandro Is Reportedly Jose Mourinho's No. 1 Choice

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has singled out Juventus' Alex Sandro as his first-choice signing at left-back this summer, per Samuel Luckhurst for the Manchester Evening News. 

Luckhurst said United are also interested in Tottenham Hotspur's Danny Rose and Celtic's Kieran Tierney. But having "scoured Europe," Sandro is the Portuguese's preference as he looks to bolster his options in a problem position for the club.

Mourinho's deteriorating relationship with Luke Shaw—"bullied" by the manager, according to some United players, per John Percy and Ian Whittell for the Daily Telegraph—has left the club short of left-backs. Daley Blind has only started three league matches this season, and since 32-year-old converted winger Ashley Young is a short-term solution, it is unsurprising United are in the market for a new left-back.

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Sandro, 27, is enjoying an excellent season at Juventus. The Old Lady are top of Serie A by two points and are set to face Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals in April. Sandro is a much greater attacking force than United's options, contributing three goals and four assists in the league this season.

A move for the coveted left-back has been mooted for some time, and a recent report by Steve Bates for the Sunday People suggested Sandro would cost United £70 million (h/t the Mirror). Mourinho is reportedly hoping to include Matteo Darmian as part of the deal and would double Sandro's wages, offering him £145,000 per week.

Mourinho is expected to spend big again this summer following a disappointing 2017-18 season. United crashed out of the Champions League with a shock defeat to Sevilla in the round of 16, after which the Red Devils boss was widely criticised for his cautious tactics.

Mourinho subsequently spoke for 12 straight minutes in an extraordinary press conference, claiming United were incapable of winning the competition because his players aren't good enough.

It comes as no surprise, then, that Sandro is reportedly a target. Regardless of which left-back Mourinho lands, it looks set to be another summer of big spending at Old Trafford.