Jose Mourinho ‘begins Manchester United clear-out’

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho will reportedly speak to as many as nine players about leaving the club throughout Thursday.

Mourinho is understood to want to trim his squad down to 24 players before the start of the new season, with the first-team roster currently containing 34 players.

The likes of Juan Mata, Marcos Rojo and Daley Blind have been linked with permanent moves away from the club, but the Daily Mail reports that Mourinho will first focus on sending a number of players out on loan.

Andreas Pereira, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, Tyler Blackett and Paddy McNair are all expected to leave Old Trafford on a temporary basis, while Adnan Januzaj, Will Keane and James Wilson will also meet with Mourinho.

United will take on Leicester City in the Community Shield on August 7 before beginning their Premier League campaign away to Bournemouth a week later.