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Reuters
Reuters
Business

Mourinho says Manchester United still in the market for a winger

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho and some of his players during the Real Madrid v Manchester United - Super Cup Final - Skopje, Macedonia - August 8, 2017 C REUTERS/Peter Cziborra/File Photo

(Reuters) - Manchester United's transfer business is "75 percent" complete but the club is still looking for a winger, manager Jose Mourinho said ahead of their Premier League opener against West Ham on Sunday.

United have added striker Romelu Lukaku, midfielder Nemanja Matic and defender Victor Lindelof to their squad. However, they have been unable to sign a wide player, and a move for Inter Milan's Ivan Perisic, who has been linked in the British media with a transfer to Old Trafford, looks unlikely.

"Twenty-five per cent means one of four," Mourinho told a news conference on Friday. "We got a central defender who can play many other positions which is very important. Victor can play right-back and centre midfield.

FILE PHOTO - Soccer Football - Manchester United Press Conference - Skopje, Macedonia - August 7, 2017 Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho during the press conference UEFA/Handout via REUTERS

"We have a central midfielder and striker, so obviously another player would be one coming from the sides."

Mourinho acknowledged this week that Real Madrid's Gareth Bale was out of reach after the Welshman started for the Spanish side in their 2-1 European Super Cup win over United.

The manager confirmed that the Manchester club is in talks to re-sign striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who is recovering from a knee ligament injury.

The 35-year-old, who scored 28 goals for United last season, has been at the club during his rehabilitation and Mourinho said the Swede could feature in the second half of the season.

"You know he's injured, he needs time to recover, he's not ready to play tomorrow," Mourinho said.

"It's not something urgent, that we are desperate to have it done or not done, I just think that he was very clear by showing what he did last year was not enough for him.

"He wants more at the highest level so we are having conversations and we are discussing the possibility of him to stay with us for the second part of the season."

Centre-backs Eric Bailly and Phil Jones return to the Manchester United squad for West Ham's visit to Old Trafford on Sunday, after being suspended for Tuesday's Super Cup defeat by Real. Defenders Luke Shaw, Marcos Rojo and winger Ashley Young are out with long-term injuries.

(Reporting by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru; Editing by Susan Fenton)

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