Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic. (Photo : Getty Images)
Incoming Manchester United head coach Jose Mourinho was reportedly given a huge £200 million transfer warchest and he plans to initially use it to snag former Chelsea player Nemanja Matic to the Old Trafford this summer.
The 53-year-old Portuguese mentor is said to be "lining up Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic as his first signing" when he takes over head coaching reins at United from sacked manager Louis van Gaal, Caught Offside indicated.
Aside from the 27-year-old Serbian, who "enjoyed the best season of his career under Mourinho as the Pensioners won the title in 2014," the Special One is set to snatch other unnamed Blues players before the summer window is over as he overhauls the Red Devils roster according to his preference.
The report noted that Mourinho will also be targeting another one of his former players, Real Madrid center back Raphael Varane, Everton defender John Stones, and Sporting Lisbon midfielder Joao Mario to fortify the Red Devils' spine in his first season in charge.
Daily Mail Online noted that Matic will cost around £25 million while Varane has a release clause of £35 million set by Los Blancos. Stones has a price tag of £45 million while Mario commands a fee of £35 million as well.
Meanwhile, the future of one of United's existing players, midfielder Juan Mata, is rumored to be uncertain with the arrival of Mourinho as the two have an unfruitful history back when they were still together at Chelsea.
Mourinho had been in bad terms with the Spanish winger back in 2013, which led to the Portuguese selling him to Man United for £37.1 million in January of 2014. Mata said he was "really happy to go" at that time because of his beef towards his coach.
It was reported, though, that Mata is willing to make amends with the incoming United manager and that he "does not see the situation as irreparable" moving forward. The midfield veteran is said to be "keen to hold talks with Mourinho and extend his stay at Old Trafford" as soon as the manager settles in.
Mourinho was sacked by Chelsea in December of last year just seven months after his team won the English Premier League title.
