Jose Mourinho wants Manchester United to complete a deal for Paul Pogba ahead of next month’s Community Shield encounter with Leicester City, despite Juventus preparing to hold out for a world record €100m fee for the France midfielder.

Mourinho, who began pre-season preparations with his United squad at the Aon Training Complex on Thursday, has already secured the signings of Eric Bailly, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitarayan since succeeding Louis van Gaal as manager six weeks ago.

The Portuguese has identified Pogba as his key summer acquisition, however, and United are confident that a deal can be struck with the Italian champions for the 23-year-old.

Pogba, who played for France in Thursday’s Euro 2016 semi-final against Germany in Marseille, is understood to favour a move to Spain this summer if he is to leave Juventus.

But with Barcelona out of the running to sign the player, and Real Madrid unprepared to offer more than £60m for the former Le Havre youngster, United believe they are in pole position to re-sign the Frenchman – four years after allowing him to run down his contract at Old Trafford and leave for Turin.

Ed Woodward, United’s executive vice-chairman, has held lengthy discussions with Pogba’s agent, Mino Raiola, this summer when negotiating the deals for his other clients Ibrahimovic and Mkhitarayan.

Manchester United summer transfer targets Show all 8 1 /8 Manchester United summer transfer targets Manchester United summer transfer targets Ivan Perisic, Inter Milan United want to spend £35m on Perisic but Inter are holding out for closer to £50m. That said, Mourinho is a big fan and may be willing to go the extra mile to get him. Likelihood: 7/10 Getty Manchester United summer transfer targets Renato Sanches - Bayern Munich Sanches was being chased by United before deciding on Bayern Munich last summer but is back on their radar again 12 months later. He is available for £43m and Ancelotti has admitted United are "a possibility". Getty Manchester United summer transfer targets Fabinho - Monaco An extremely versatile player Mourinho sees him more as a defensive midfielder and could be used to give Paul Pogba, last summer's big addition, more freedom. Monaco aren't in any rush to lose any more first team stars this summer though and are likely to demand a hefty fee. Likelihood: 7/10 AFP/Getty Images Manchester United summer transfer targets Eric Dier - Tottenham United have already had a bid less than £25m rejected for the defensive midfielder and know they must more than double it to have any hope of signing Dier, who is understood to want the move. Getty Manchester United summer transfer targets Nemanja Matic - Chelsea Nemanja Matic has twice worked under Jose Mourinho before and he wants to make it a third time at United. However, after beating Chelsea to Romelu Lukaku, relations between the two clubs have been soured somewhat. Getty Manchester United summer transfer targets Gareth Bale - Real Madrid The Real Madrid forward would be a marquee signing, the type that the Manchester United boardroom are keen to make, and The Independent has been told by sources from both United and Madrid that a deal is 'much likelier' than ever before. The player himself though is happy in the Spanish capital. Likelihood: 5/10 Getty Manchester United summer transfer targets Willian - Chelsea Mourinho is a huge admirer of Willian, who he signed in 2013 while at Chelsea. The pair won a Premier League title and League Cup double together the following year and it is believed that the United manager will do his best to sign the player, who has not been a regular starter in Antonio Conte’s system. Whether Chelsea will allow him to leave, particularly to join Mourinho at their rivals is yet to be seen. Likelihood: 4/10 Getty Manchester United summer transfer targets Andrea Belotti - Torino Another of Europe’s most promising players, Belotti is fast becoming well-known after his outstanding performances at Torino, where he has scored 37 goals in 64 appearances since 2015. His best years are still ahead of him aged just 23, which contributes to the incredible €100m release clause, applicable only to clubs outside of Italy, negotiated into his contract. Torino are in no hurry to sell and will drive a hard bargain with any deal likely to start at upwards of £70m. Likelihood: 7/10 Getty

And United have made it clear to Raiola and Juventus that they will lodge a formal bid for Pogba if they are given encouragement from either party that a deal can be done.

With Mourinho insisting earlier this week that United captain Wayne Rooney will be deployed as an attacking player this season, dismissing suggestions that he will operate as a midfielder, Pogba is regarded as the long-term solution to the team’s search for a commanding player in the centre of the pitch.

Mourinho has extended Michael Carrick’s contract for a further 12 months to ensure United possess the necessary experience in midfield, but at 23, Pogba is viewed as the man who could become the club’s most important midfielder for the next five years and inject youthful energy into that key area of the team.

Mourinho: I am where I want to be

With Manchester City ruling themselves out of a move for Pogba and Chelsea unlikely to reignite their interest of last summer, when Mourinho made a late move to tempt him to Stamford Bridge, United have a clear run domestically to sign him.

Mourinho has made it clear, however, that he will not allow a transfer saga to become a distraction in the final weeks of the transfer window following the start of the season on August 13.