• José Mourinho ready to step up chase for Tottenham’s left-back • Rose has had difficult season after criticising Spurs’ transfer policy

José Mourinho is looking for a right-back and a left-back in the summer transfer market, with the Manchester United manager hopeful of landing Danny Rose from Tottenham.

Mourinho intends to upgrade both positions to increase United’s prospects of mounting a challenge to Manchester City.

In December he highlighted City’s £100m-plus investment in Kyle Walker and Benjamin Mendy, deals he characterised as “full‑backs for the prices of strikers”.

Manchester United’s Ander Herrera sinks Tottenham in FA Cup semi-final Read more

Mourinho might have moved for Rose in January but the left-back was injured again following a 10-month absence because of a serious knee injury. Daniel Levy has a reputation for being a difficult negotiator and Tottenham’s chairman may be reluctant to allow the sale of a top player to United, who he would consider a direct competitor.

However, Walker was allowed to leave Spurs for Manchester City last summer for £53m – at the time a world-record fee for a defender. Rose, who is under contract until 2021, would command a similar price.

In August the 27-year-old signalled his disquiet at Spurs by stating he did not want the club to sign players “you have to Google”, and that he will play “up north” before he retires. The Doncaster-born Rose, also stated he wants to win trophies and time is running out. The 2-1 FA Cup semi-final defeat by United on Saturday means Spurs will yet again win nothing this season.

While content with the contributions of Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young, his first-choice right-back and left-back, Mourinho is aware they are both are in their 30s and also converted wingers.

Sign up for The Fiver, our daily football email.

Valencia, the captain, is 33 in August and was a forward until Mourinho switched him to defence. Young is 33 in July and struggled for a game in his usual left‑forward position until the United manager’s lack of faith in Luke Shaw and Matteo Darmian convinced him to experiment with Young at the back.

Darmian, who can also play right-back, may leave in the summer and while United would listen to offers for Shaw it is understood the 22-year-old may run down a contract that ends in July 2019 in order to leave as a free agent.