Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho wants the club to sign Inter Milan’s Milan Skriniar and AC Milan’s Alessio Romagnoli, according to reports.

The Portuguese boss believes that the United board will be keener to back moves for the centre-back pairing because of their age.

Both Serie A defenders are 23 years old and would prove to be more long-term investments than Jerome Boateng (30), Diego Godin (32) or Toby Alderweireld (29) who the club were looking at in the summer.

Mourinho is keen to repair what he perceives to be the club’s major issue at the back. United have already conceded 14 goals in just eight Premier League games. They conceded only 28 in the whole of last season.

Skriniar has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester over the past year. The Slovakian was part of a defence which was the fourth best in Italy last campaign. Romagnoli meanwhile, is a fully fledged Italian international, although he is part of Milan side who are currently struggling in midtable.