Jose Mourinho Set to axe Juan Mata and Daley Blind from Manchester United squad

Jose Mourinho has already decided Juan Mata and Daley Blind are surplus to requirements at Manchester United, according to reports.

The former Chelsea manager was confirmed as Louis van Gaal’s successor last week and has set about improving his squad and formalising his transfer plans with Untied’s executive vice chairman Ed Woodward.

Mourinho sold Mata to Manchester United for £37 million in January 2014 after the then reigning Chelsea player of the year, had spent most of the first part of that season on the bench.

The Portuguese is reported to still harbour doubts that the former Valencia forward possesses the requisite energy and defensive diligence to fit into his ultra disciplined tactical system.

Blind, meanwhile, has been a solid, if not spectacular, signing since his arrival from Ajax in 2014

Mourinho is reported to be looking for a relatively traditional centre-back at the heart of his defence and would be willing to do away with Blind, should his United club receive an acceptable offer for the Dutch man