Despite being announced over a month ago, José Mourinho had his unveiling press conference as the new AS Roma manager on Thursday.
The Portuguese manager took over from Paulo Fonseca at the Serie A side, and we immediately saw a number of transfer rumours suggesting the Special One could end up fishing in his former clubs for transfer targets, including Manchester United.
So far, Granit Xhaka and Rui Patricio are the two names who appear to be heading from the Premier League to Roma, if deals can be sorted, but we might be able to add Eric Bailly to this list, if Il Tempo are to be believed.
Manchester United’s continuous search for a Harry Maguire partner certainly hasn’t taken any pressure off the likes of Victor Lindelöf and the Ivory Coast international, and if one were to be sacrificed, it appears it could be the latter.
Il Tempo explain on Thursday that Chris Smalling, who was never a Mourinho favourite when the Portuguese was in charge at Old Trafford, could end up returning to England if the right offer was made.
Should that happen, ‘one of the names to keep an eye on is that of Eric Bailly’, who was bought by the AS Roma manager when he was at the helm of the Premier League side, and is a player they are ‘following’.
The defender recently admitted being in contact with his former boss, with the two enjoying a good relationship to this day, so that is always a bonus.
It’s not much to go on at the minute, but it’s certainly one that could grow going forward, especially if Manchester United do make that big centre-back signing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is dreaming of.
