José Mourinho wants to sign up to four top players this summer in a transfer spree likely to exceed £200 million. After Manchester United’s emotional Europa League triumph over Ajax on Wednesday, the manager is already plotting an assault on two fronts — challenging for the Premier League and the Champions League.

The Times understands that Mourinho has told Ed Woodward, United’s executive vice-chairman, that he needs to sign a defender, a central midfielder, a forward and possibly also a No 9 given that Zlatan Ibrahimovic is out of contract and unlikely to play for United again after rupturing knee ligaments. Antoine Griezmann tops the list of potential buys while Eric Dier, of Tottenham Hotspur, and Burnley’s central defender Michael Keane are other targets. Monaco’s