Manchester United are close to signing Serbia midfielder Nemanja Matic from Chelsea for £40m.




Matic, 28, would be United's third summer buy, following £31m defender Victor Lindelof from Benfica and £75m striker Romelu Lukaku from Everton.

Speaking after Sunday's 3-0 pre-season victory over Valerenga, United manager Jose Mourinho - who signed Matic for Chelsea - said: "We are waiting for news. He wants it very much.

Mourinho spent £21m in January 2014 to sign Matic from Benfica for a second spell at 
Stamford Bridge.
Jose Mourinho has revealed that Nemanja Matic is desperate to finalise a move to Manchester United.

He, however, refused to confirm if the transfer has been finalised.

The Chelsea midfielder reportedly underwent a medical on Sunday and a picture of him wearing United training gear, leaked on social media.

“I know that he wants it very, very much and when a player wants it very, very much, the chance is bigger.

“We have a chance. In football, until it’s official, I saw many things happen… I refuse to say more than I’m telling you now.”

Mourinho also insisted he is not aware if a medical was conducted while he has been with the senior squad in Norway.

“I don’t know because I was not there,” he said.

“Number 31 is a free number. It was Schweinsteiger but it’s a free jersey. We have a few free.”



The midfielder scored once in 35 Premier League appearances during Chelsea's title-winning 2016-17 season, but also struck spectacularly in their FA Cup semi-final victory over Tottenham in April.

His exit had been expected after the Blues signed France international Tiemoue Bakayoko, 22, from French champions Monaco in a reported £40m deal earlier this month.

Italian champions Juventus were also understood to be keen on Matic.

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