Manchester United were reportedly very close to signing Ivan Perisic this week but couldn’t agree a deal with Inter Milan, meaning the winger had to travel with his club to their pre-season tour of China.

Perisic cut a frustrated figure at the airport and was pictures on the plane sitting by himself and away from his teammates.

Mourinho obviously would have wanted the player to sign as soon as possible so he could join up with the squad in plenty of time of the season starting.

Our manager has told ESPN that he isn’t happy with the work that has been done in the transfer window so far but understands why it is difficult for all clubs.

We always want more. We always feel there is room to improve, and I cannot say that I am happy with our transfer window. What I can also say is that it is a difficult transfer window and I don’t blame anyone — it is just a reality of things. The market is going in such a direction that many players are difficult to get, not to say impossible.

Every club is powerful and they don’t want to sell or their demands are really high, so the market is difficult.

Everton started really strong in the market without the Lukaku money. AC Milan, without selling players, are buying non-stop, so it depends on the moment, the objective, maybe on new owners.

Still, United have brought in Romelu Lukaku and Victor Lindelof, who are players Mourinho knows well and has high hopes for.

What I will say is that, a long time ago, we thought about four players to strengthen our squad, but it is really hard to do it. If we do the third and forget the fourth, I would be quite happy with that because I know it is difficult. At the moment we have Lukaku and Lindelof, two players I know well. I worked with one before and the other is from the Portuguese championship, which I follow every weekend. I am happy with them and I know that they will succeed at the club.

The market ends on Aug. 31, so there is plenty of time, but obviously, the objective for me as manager is always to have the players as soon as possible and try to coach them in the team and develop the team with them and Lukaku and Lindelof arrived to train in time for day one.