Manchester United are set to sign at least one midfielder over the next two transfer windows, and one potential January target is set to snub a Serie A move in favour of joining The Reds.
Manchester United must prioritise the signing of at least one new midfielder over the next two transfer windows as Rúben Amorim’s rebuild gathers pace.
The recent fixture against Aston Villa exposed the lack of depth in United’s midfield. Manuel Ugarte, who has found it difficult to adapt to life at Old Trafford, was handed a start but once again failed to convince Amorim that he merits a regular place in the side.
With Kobbie Mainoo sidelined through injury and Bruno Fernandes forced off at half-time after picking up a knock in the opening 45 minutes, United were left scrambling for solutions. Lisandro Martínez, a natural centre-back, was introduced as a makeshift replacement for the Portuguese midfielder.
Beyond these immediate concerns, longer-term issues also loom. Mainoo’s future at the club remains uncertain, Casemiro’s contract expires at the end of the season, and rumours linking Fernandes with a potential move to Saudi Arabia persist following last summer’s speculation.
Rúben Neves snubs Serie A move in favour of Premier League return
As reported by CaughtOffside, Rúben Neves is refusing to sign a new deal at his current side, Al-Hilal, and with his contract expiring at the end of the season, his future in Saudi Arabia is uncertain.
The Saudi Pro League side are reportedly open to a January sale, as they look to recoup any possible fee to avoid letting one of their star players leave for free next summer after signing the Portuguese midfielder for £47 million in 2023.
Despite interest from Serie A giants Inter Milan and Juventus, who are keeping tabs on the 28-year-old, Neves is reportedly keen on a return to the Premier League, having given the green light to clubs in England to make a move for him in January.
While Manchester United are monitoring the situation closely, they face competition from Newcastle United. Despite the North East side’s interest, financial fair play restrictions mean they could struggle to meet the midfielder’s wage demands, who earns £410,000-a-week in Saudi Arabia.
Man Utd need to sign a midfielder in January
It’s been clear to see that ever since INEOS took over at Manchester United, they have shifted their transfer policy to signing Premier League-proven players, as seen by the marquee signings of both Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.
The signing of Neves would be the latest example of this, being highly rated during his six-season stint at Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Championship and Premier League.
Previous reports indicate that Al-Hilal could let Neves go for a cut-price deal of around £25 million, which would be both affordable and excellent value for money for United.
As Man Utd ready themselves to make a marquee midfield signing, with players such as Carlos Baleba, Adam Wharton and Elliot Anderson all linked with a move, the signing of Neves could help remedy United’s midfield problems in the short term, and help push for European places to make a move for the aforementioned midfielders look much more attractive in the summer.
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