New Inter manager Stefano Pioli reportedly has his sights set on a move for up to four Manchester United players, as he looks to reverse the fortunes of the struggling Italian giants.
Pioli is confident of signing Italian international right-back Matteo Darmian, according toCorriere dello Sport, and will ask Red Devils boss Jose Mourinho about the availability of England defensive pair Chris Smalling and Luke Shaw, as well as out of favour winger Memphis Depay.
Mourinho under scrutiny as it emerges Smalling and Shaw have been taking pain-killing injections | @JPercyTelegraph https://t.co/zOGEIsodjd
The Old Trafford futures of defenders Smalling and Shaw was put in doubt after Mourinho doubted the pair's commitment to the cause, due to their unwillingness to play through pain inUnited's 3-1 win over Swansea City on 6 November.
Mourinho's comments drew criticism at the time, and are even more baffling as it has since been revealed that centre-back Smalling has a broken toe, which will sideline the former Fulham man for around four weeks.
Furthermore, Shaw suffered a horrific double leg-break in October 2015, which sidelined him for the entire season, while Mourinho has been accused of being unsympathetic towards a player who needs time to recover from the psychological effects of such an injury.
It is also not the first time Mourinho has spoken out againstShaw in public, as the former Chelsea managerwas critical of Shaw's display in United's 3-1 loss to Watford in September, and it is this tension that has created the possibility of the starlet exiting the club.
Memphis Depay has scored his first ever brace for Netherlands senior team.
What a free kick! pic.twitter.com/rklfJxJ3kb
Meanwhile, Darmian played second fiddle to Antonio Valencia until the converted winger was sidelined due to arm surgery, and a return to Italian football for the full-back, whom Mourinho just doesn't seem to rate,would surprise no-one.
Depay lost his United starting place under Louis van Gaal, his former manager at international level, and has been able to force his way back into the fold under Mourinho, and seems a near certainly to leave the club sooner rather than later.