Winter transfer window: Ten players looking for a move in January
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Jose Mourinho has hinted Manchester United may be in active in the January transfer market after all following a spate of injuries.
The Portuguese was missing a host of players for the New Year's Day win over Everton, including strikers Romelu Lukaku and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, with Ashley Young also beginning a three-game suspension to further limit his options.
Only last week Mourinho had admitted it was unlikely there would be any incomings at Old Trafford this month but a stretched squad appears to have altered his stance.
"We will compete always, we competed and we didn't have I think nine players," he said.
"Nine players were not here. I always say that I like my guys very, very much. We have a fantastic relationship, we give our best, we try to do well always and when we don't we stick together and fight.
"If somebody comes, welcome, if nobody is coming we are going to fight with the players we have.
"I had not one more player to select, even Chris Smalling was on the bench but he could only play in an emergency situation."
Transfers: Players that are out of contract in 2018
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Anthony Martial, playing up front due to the absence of Lukaku and Ibrahimovic, and Jesse Lingard were both on target in the second half at Goodison Park - the latter scoring for the 10th time this season, seven of which have come in his last nine games.
It is a significant total for a player who managed only half of that across all of last term and further evidence that, shortly after turning 25, Lingard is coming of age as a United player.
Yet the England international has revealed his goals target for the campaign was greater than just simply getting to double figures.
"I have still got a target in mind and I'm working towards that," he told MUTV. "I just want to assist and score goals to help the team - it's good for me and that's my aim.
"(The target) is secret! But I'm working towards it and I'll keep working hard to help the team. It's always good for us to score as attacking players and to help the team get the three points."
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was in no mood to discuss Nike’s ill-fated Philippe Coutinho advert, which advertised Barcelona shirts with the Brazilian’s name on them.
In fact, the Liverpool manager laughed off the entire saga: “I heard about it. I couldn't be less interested in anything in the world,” he said.
“But somebody told me and I thought 'wow'. Top story.”
Manchester United have no intention of selling Matteo Damian in January, according to his agent, despite the Italian being linked with a return to Serie A.
The full-back has barely featured for United this season but agent Tullio Tinti told Rete Sport: "At the moment, the lad's not for sale."
Matteo Damian made a rare appearance in the EFL Cup defeat to Bristol City in December
Representatives working on behalf of Philippe Coutinho are continuing with their efforts to convince Liverpool to allow the Brazilian playmaker to leave this month.
Barcelona remain keen on the 25-year-old midfielder and are confident that they will eventually get their man, but after getting over-confident on a deal in August there is now a distinct sense of déja vu, with the local media in Catalonia leading with a seemingly imminent deal over the last week.
As far as Liverpool are concerned, there has been no bid for the twinkle-toed Brazil international since the summer and as long as that continues to be the case there is obviously nothing to discuss. Similarly, Jurgen Klopp has no great desire to lose one of his best players halfway through the season.
Liverpool will demand at least £130m before discussing a deal for Philippe Coutinho, according to the Telegraph, a significant increase on Barcelona's summer offer.
Atletico Madrid will let striker Luciano Vietto leave the club after Diego Costa finally returned to the club in an official capacity.
Vietto, a talented Argentinean striker who thrived at Villarreal, made his professional debut under Diego Simeone at Racing Club in his homeland before eventually being reunited in the Spanish capital.
But with the young forward struggling for regular games at Atleti he is set to depart on loan, with Valencia and Sporting CP leading the race for his signature. Atletico would demand a £12m clause to trigger a permanent deal.
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