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    Jose Mourinho Has 'No Idea' If Manchester United Will Make Any More Signings

    Tom Sunderland@@TomSunderland_Featured ColumnistJuly 18, 2018

    LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 19: Manager of Manchester United Jose Mourinho gestures from the sideline during the Emirates FA Cup Final between Chelsea and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium on May 19, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Brunskill Ltd/Getty Images)
    Chris Brunskill Ltd/Getty Images

    Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has said he has "no idea" whether the club will make more signings this summer.

    The Red Devils have already signed midfielder Fred, right-back Diogo Dalot and goalkeeper Lee Grant this summer, but Mourinho said he was in the dark as to whether any more new faces will arrive, per Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News:

    "I've no idea. I'm not going to lie to you, I'm not going to say somebody is coming or nobody is coming.

    [...]

    "Fred we did quite a long time ago, we started the process, we lost Michael Carrick and I think Fred is the kind of player we need to complement the qualities of our midfield players. Dalot is injured, a small injury, a small surgery, we didn't want to lose him because of that and he's recovering really well and we think he can start training back in England, not ready for start of the season."

    United's pre-season got off to a disjointed start on Monday after BBC Sport reported Alexis Sanchez was refused entry to the United States due to a visa issue.

    Mourinho went on to detail just how bad the preparations have been of late, though he tried to maintain a strong front despite their setbacks, per football writer Chris Winterburn:

    Chris Winterburn @cmwinterburn

    Mourinho on not having whole squad present, "Yes the preseason is very bad, I have to say that. The only positive of this preseason is for the young boys who can train with us and have the chance to know what it is to be a Manchester United first team player."

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    Goalkeeper Grant was signed from Stoke City and will provide another cover option behind the likes of David De Gea and Sergio Romero, who are No. 1 and No. 2 in the stopper ranks as things stand.

    Of the club's three signings already this summer, Fred looks the best-equipped to have an immediate impact on the first team following his arrival from Shakhtar Donetsk.

    Dalot doesn't seem likely to strip senior Antonio Valencia of his place anytime soon, although Mourinho certainly appears to be laying the foundations for his Portuguese compatriot on the right side of defence.

    Mourinho's unknowing comments came on the same day that Sky in Italy (h/t Sky Sports) reported their rivals Liverpool had agreed a €75 million (£67 million) to sign Alisson Becker from AS Roma.

    The two clubs are in stark contrast in terms of pushing the transfer pace this summer, as illustrated by blogger Liam Canning:

    Liam Canning @LiamPaulCanning

    Have to hand it to Liverpool this transfer window: quick, clinical and effective in signing the players they want. They’re most certainly going to be a contender for the Premier League. Manchester United looking very far behind right now - a huge three weeks.

    United finished a distant second to neighbours Manchester City in the Premier League last term and exited the UEFA Champions League in the round of 16, but there doesn't appear to be great haste to improve matters.

    Transfer business doesn't dictate success, and there's no rule saying a team needs transfers to win trophies, but Mourinho needs to add more quality if he's to avoid another trophy-less campaign at Old Trafford.