Jose Mourinho has revealed he wants two more players to bolster his squad before the start of the new season.
The Portuguese boss has already secured goalkeeper Lee Grant, 19-year-old defender Diogo Dalot and midfielder Fred this summer but he admits he would ideally like to strengthen with two more additions.
In an exclusive interview with ESPN, the United boss, currently out in Los Angeles, also warned his rivals in England they must be 'ready to be attacked' from European sides due to the early closure of the English transfer window.
For Premier League sides, the transfer window closes on August 9, a day before United welcome Leicester City to Old Trafford for the opening match of the 2018/19 season.
But European rivals will have until the end of the month to finalise their deals and English clubs will be under threat as they can only sell stars, rather than buy.
'One thing is what I would like, another thing is what is going to happen,' Mourinho admitted when quizzed on his transfer strategy. '[If you had any wish…?] I would get two more players.'
Centre back appears to be an area Mourinho is keen to strengthen with Harry Maguire, Toby Alderweireld and Leonardo Bonnuci all linked in recent days.
When conversation switched to the decision to close the window early, Mourinho insisted he feels it is the right decision.
'On the one side it’s a fair perspective,' he said. 'I think it’s correct that the market closes before the season starts.
'I think it’s correct that a manager, that a club, that a team knows that these are the players that you have and you cannot buy more and doesn’t happen what I think is ridiculous.
'In August a player plays in one team and in September he plays against you again but with another club. It’s quite strange this situation so I think it’s fair but I think English clubs they must be ready to be attacked.
'It’s possible that from August 9 to the end of the market in all the other leagues – and we are talking about powerful leagues with some clubs strong enough to attack in the Premier League – will be a big risk.
'From the 9th you cannot buy but you can sell and clubs must be aware of that.'
United, bolstered by the arrival of Chile ace Alexis Sanchez, are currently training at their UCLA base in Los Angeles while they ramp up preparations in pre-season.
The Red Devils drew 0-0 with San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday and now switch focus to facing Gennaro Gattuso's AC Milan early on Thursday morning at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
Mourinho's men, without a host of stars due to post-World Cup holiday, then face three matches in the inaugural International Champions Cup.
zowemsz
95
Let's wait and see, football is full of surprises. The rejected stone could turn out to be the chief cornerstone. So far mourinho have three trophies and pep has two in two seasons. While pep has bought more players in each of these seasons MOU have bought less and still manages the old player effectively. I bet you if pep was in ManU there would be no RACHFORD, Mater, Young, Valentia, Failani, no Jones, no smallings, nor blind, no Rojo. but these are still old players that more is managing. If more had sold them as pep did to mancity, fans would have been screaming to the top of heavens 'MOU can't manage players.' Open your eyes and see. Compare before you critisize Mou is doing great, managing the players he met and a strogling club. And now ManU is stabilizing, let's give him time. Rebuilding a strogling club(ManU) is not easy and can not be compared with managing a flourishing club(Mancity). Just think of the mancity Pep inherited and the ManU MOU inherited and you'll agree with me. Just consider how Mancity is pumping in money into the transfer market and how Manu have been dragging there foot in the transfer market unwilling to spend and you'll agree with me.
Rodraggaa
37
he's still waiting for Peps targets so that he can hijack again
Yudmps
16
Let's wait and see, football is full of surprises. The rejected stone could turn out to be the chief cornerstone. So far mourinho have three trophies and pep has two in two seasons. While pep has bought more players in each of these seasons MOU have bought less and still manages the old player effectively. I bet you if pep was in ManU there would be no RACHFORD, Mater, Young, Valentia, Failani, no Jones, no smallings, nor blind, no Rojo. but these are still old players that more is managing. If more had sold them as pep did to mancity, fans would have been screaming to the top of heavens 'MOU can't manage players.' Open your eyes and see. Compare before you critisize Mou is doing great, managing the players he met and a strogling club. And now ManU is stabilizing, let's give him time. Rebuilding a strogling club(ManU) is not easy and can not be compared with managing a flourishing club(Mancity). Just think of the mancity Pep inherited and the ManU MOU inherited and you'll agree with me. Just consider how Mancity is pumping in money into the transfer market and how Manu have been dragging there foot in the transfer market unwilling to spend and you'll agree with me.
clearly you don't know what you are saying. the city Guardiola inherited was old players who were above 32 and loosing form. the ones he maintained are the young ones and some few old.players to inject experience into the team like Silva Fernandinho and kompany. Guardiola did a very wonderful job with city last season. didn't you watch his first season when he tried utilizing the old players. One thing about a coach is you buy players that suit your style that's why some players dont thrive when they move to certain clubs. United has got a talented squad capable of winning trophies Mou has done a good work so far but he needs to improve his tactics. what they lack is consistency. and they should attack more and stop the defending games it doesn't help attackers. look at Sanchez. last 2 seasons he nearly won the golden boot. but he's suffering under Mou have you asked yourself why...? your coach defends too much you have the likes of Pogba Matic Mata these are clearly world class players. we want more attacking football next season