Manchester United defensive midfielder Daley Blind. (Photo : Getty Images)
Manchester United defensive midfielder Daley Blind is being targeted by FC Barcelona this summer as the back-to-back La Liga champions are reportedly prepared to offer £14 million for Jose Mourinho's unwanted man when the upcoming transfer window opens next month.
The 26-year-old Dutchman, who had been an integral part of sacked head coach Louis van Gaal's defensive schemes for two seasons at the Old Trafford, is said to be not in the future plans of incoming United manager Mourinho, which makes him one of several players who are rumored to be sold by the club in the offseason.
Even if he could serve as a quality backfield or midfield backup for the Red Devils, rumors are out that Blind "isn't wanted by" the Special One moving forward and so an exit from the club is imminent in the summer, as per Caught Offside.
The report then mentioned that the Catalonia giants are ready to "take advantage of the situation and make their move" for the 5-foot-11 Amsterdam native as manager Luis Enrique favors players like Blind who are versatile and can play multiple positions on the field.
Mourinho is allegedly looking for tall, fast, and strong athletic defensive midfielders such as Chelsea's Kurt Zouma and Real Madrid's Raphael Varane who both stands at 6 feet and three inches tall.
Barça is also trying to prepare for rumored exits this summer as defender Dani Alves and defensive midfielder Javier Mascherano are both linked to a move to Juventus. Alves and Mascherano are integral parts of Enrique's defense and he is expected to make necessary moves in the coming transfer window to maintain his team's strong spine.
Meanwhile, SkySports indicated that Blind is not the only player at risk of being let go at the Old Trafford as winger Juan Mata is allegedly set to be sold by Mourinho as well.
The former Chelsea champion coach was the one who sold Mata to the Red Devils in January 2014 as he deemed him unfit for his plans at the Stamford Bridge at that time. It is anticipated that Mourinho will repeat the same move this year as soon as he takes over the team days from now.
