25/07/2017 17:42, Report by Mark Froggatt in Washington DC

Jose Mourinho has revealed Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez was never a transfer target of his, although the Manchester United boss is full of praise for the popular former Reds striker.

Chicha scored 59 goals in 157 appearances for the club between 2010 and 2015, before departing for Bundesliga side Bayern Leverkusen. The Mexico international was a smash hit in Germany, and this week secured a big-money move back to the Premier League with West Ham United.

After Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Wayne Rooney both left United earlier this summer, some fans had wondered whether Hernandez could be in line for a sensational return. However, while speaking at a press conference in Washington DC on Tuesday afternoon, Mourinho played that rumour down.

Asked if Javier has ever been a transfer target of his, the manager told journalists: “No, because he left the club a few years ago. I am not sure if it was his decision or the manager's decision [Louis van Gaal]. But he is a good player who will always score goals, and I would always welcome him in my squad because he is a player who doesn't need many minutes on the pitch to score a goal. 

“We moved in another direction with a younger player in Romelu Lukaku and we have Marcus Rashford, who can also be a striker, so we didn’t feel that need. But, no doubt, for West Ham to get a player with his experience and quality is very, very good.”