It says that although transfer funds will be "much more constrained" than they were in the summer, Mourinho will push hard for the arrival of the Spain Under-21 international as he seeks more creativity in the absence of the injured Paul Pogba.

With Soler likely to be priced at around £40 million, "United have considered the possibility of offering Andreas Pereira, currently thriving on loan at Valencia, plus cash."

Meanwhile, on Wednesday sources told ESPN FC that United would not sell Marouane Fellaini in January even if that meant losing him on a free transfer in the summer.

And, according to the Mirror, they are "increasingly resigned" to the midfielder departing for nothing.

The Mirror says the Belgium international, linked with Galatasaray, Besiktas, AC Milan, Roma and Valencia, "is not happy with the terms he has been offered and wants to play more regularly."

It adds that since he rejected United's offer of a new £120,000-a-week deal in September "there has been nothing from his camp to indicate that stance will change."