Report: Jose Mourinho Wants Dortmund's Axel Witsel at Manchester United

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is reportedly eager to revive his interest in Borussia Dortmund midfielder Axel Witsel and is understood to have scouted the player during the recent international break.

Mark Ogden of ESPN FC wrote that Mourinho told reporters he was in Brussels to keep tabs on Red Devils striker Romelu Lukaku. However, the tactician remained after Lukaku was ruled out of Belgium's UEFA Nations League clash against Iceland, and Witsel is understood to have been the reason why.

United splashed £52 million to recruit Brazil international Fred, 25, from Shakhtar Donetsk in the summer, with his age said to be a crucial factor in why the club signed him.

Mourinho is thought to be a long-term admirer of Witsel, 29, who moved back to Europe this past summer, joining Dortmund from Chinese Super League club Tianjin Quanjian for only £18 million.

Witsel played the full 90 minutes in Brussels that evening against Iceland and impressed during a 2-0 victory—he completed 67 of 70 attempted passes and made one key pass, per WhoScored.com.

Mourinho didn't stay for the entirety of the clash and wasn't giving much away when asked for the reason behind his visit, via journalist Kristof Terreur:

Witsel joined Portuguese giants Benfica from Standard Liege in 2011 when he was only 22 and tipped for big things. He signed for Zenit St. Petersburg one year later and spent four years in Russia before a lucrative move to China in 2017.

Set to turn 30 in January, it's only now the Belgian has found his way to one of Europe's "big five" leagues, and he appears to be enjoying himself:

Fred—who cost almost three times the price—has become part of the rotation at Old Trafford and isn't guaranteed to start alongside the likes of Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic, neither of whom have been at their best this season. Ander Herrera and another Belgian, Marouane Fellaini, also sit among United's underwhelming midfield selection.

The fact United are being linked with more midfield recruits of Witsel's level is a sign of how bad their recent investments in that area have been.

Witsel, on the other hand, has been crucial in Lucien Favre's XI, as they've shot to the top of the Bundesliga, sitting four points above Borussia Monchengladbach and nine points ahead of rivals Bayern Munich, who are fifth.

He recently expressed his joy after transforming his career in Germany's top flight, per Goal's Ronan Murphy:

The Black and Yellows will not be tempted into changing their formula in January, but Ogden wrote a sale next summer could be possible. Dortmund tend to listen to offers that make sense, and there's scope to make a good profit on a 30-year-old who cost only £18 million and has interest from a club like United.

The midfield gem has only three goals in 18 appearances for Dortmund, but he is a robust asset to have in the middle of the park, though it's said United's board will take convincing to chase a target of his age.