'Mourinho could build Man Utd team around Wilshere'

Gordon McQueen believes the England international would be a great summer signing for the Old Trafford outfit but feels £200 million will not be enough to transform the squad

New Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho could build a team around Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere at Old Trafford, according to former Red Devils defender Gordon McQueen.

Mourinho has replaced Louis van Gaal with the task of returning United to the top of both the English and European game following three relatively barren campaigns at the Theatre of Dreams.

And McQueen - who played over 180 matches for the club in a seven-year spell - believes England international Wilshere would be the perfect signing for Mourinho to form his new-look side around if he can stay injury-free.

"United could build a team around a fit Jack Wilshere, but right now I doubt Arsenal would sell him," he told Goal. "They let Robin van Persie go to United, so you never know.

"United are a huge club and big-name players will always listen to them, but they are not in the Champions League next season and that will work against them."

Mourinho will reportedly be given around £200 million to spend on new signings this summer while a host of new players are set to depart the club as the Portuguese plans a massive overhaul on his playing staff.

But McQueen does not think an influx of new signings will be enough to drastically change the team's fortunes due to the amount of other clubs who are set to spend big this summer.

"I don't think £200m will be anywhere near enough. The money involved nowadays has gone crazy," he argued.

"Mourinho will spend every penny he is given, he has to, but he will also have to look closely at what he has already got before deciding where to strengthen and who he can realistically afford.

"He will have to sell some of his assets - players like Juan Mata will go. He already sold him once when they were at Chelsea together. His most sellable asset is Anthony Martial but that would get him off on the wrong foot with the United fans.

"His budget will be less than Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, who already have a much stronger squad, so there will have to be a lot of wheeling and dealing. Mourinho will have to show his skills in the marketplace to make United competitive."