Manchester United ready to give Jose Mourinho £80million transfer budget for January window

Manchester United are reportedly ready to give Jose Mourinho an £80million budget for the January transfer window, with the aim of strengthening the team in their quest to chase down league leaders Manchester City.

Pep Guardiola and co. are currently eight points clear of United at the top of the table and, according to reports in various tabloids, the Old Trafford hierarchy are willing to free up a significant amount of cash in January in a bid to close the gap between the Manchester clubs.

Mourinho could apparently target a left-back, a right winger and a creative No.10, having identified those areas as problem positions for the Red Devils.

READ MORE: Gossip – Hazard to snub new deal, Walcott to leave?

Danny Rose is rumoured to be a target, with The Daily Mail reporting that the Tottenham left-back could cost United £50million.

It’s been mooted that Luke Shaw and Matteo Darmian could leave the club to help finance their January spending.

However, in a surprise move, Mourinho has praised Shaw this week ahead of United’s clash with CSKA Moscow in the Champions League.

Mourinho said: “He is working to have an opportunity and sooner or later the opportunity will arrive, because he deserves that opportunity.”

READ MORE: Pogba to miss Manchester derby as club turns down appeal

Manchester United spent £150million in the summer, including £75million on Romelu Lukaku and £40million on Nemanja Matic.

Meanwhile, their city rivals spent over £220million, an outlay which has no doubt helped in their title bid.