Karim Benzema is Mourinho's top transfer target at Man United

Although his appointment as the new Manchester United manager hasn’t been made official yet, José Mourinho can’t keep his name out of the papers. According to The Independent’s chief football correspondent, Mark Ogden, the Portuguese tactician has Karim Benzema in his crosshairs. Mou is looking to add firepower to the Red Devils’ front line and is therefore keen to lure the Frenchman away from the Spanish capital, as well as sign Zlatan Ibrahimovic, whose free agent status after running down his contract with PSG makes a move to Old Trafford highly likely. Mourinho wants to play Wayne Rooney in a deeper position and utilise Benzema and Ibra as a two pronged attack.

Mourinho and Benzema spent three years working together at Real Madrid. The France international joined Los Blancos in 2009 from Lyon when Manuel Pellegrini was still in charge. However, the ex-Inter boss took over in 2010 after the Chilean was handed his P-45. The Special One was openly critical about Benzema and went as far as to request another striker during the 2010 summer transfer window, eventually bringing in Emmanuel Adebayor on a half season-long loan deal. The criticism had a positive effect on the Madrid number nine though: “That was his way to motivate me, by making me react. It bothered me at the beginning, but bit by bit I started to understand my position and what he was looking from me”.

Benzema and his agent are currently in negotiations with Real Madrid to extend his contract until 2020. Curiously, the 28-year-old turned down an offer to join Manchester United in 2009, instead choosing the bright lights of the Bernabéu. Now, seven years down the line, Mourinho is looking to team back up with the volatile marksman.