Manchester United are facing a potential transfer blow for one of their targets as Rúben Amorim continues to hunt for reinforcements.
As Ruben Amorim prepares his side to take on Newcastle United on Boxing Day, he will be faced with a midfield conundrum.
Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo have both recently picked up injuries, leaving the only senior midfield options as Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte.
Lisandro Martinez played a makeshift role there against Villa, and Jack Fletcher made his debut, replacing the struggling Ugarte. It is far from ideal that the main options Amorim has are all defensively minded.
With a midfielder already on the agenda for the January transfer window, the need for one has only increased as the injury list grows.
Real Madrid eye up Neves
Ruben Neves has recently been a name bandied around as a target for Manchester United as the club looks to fill the gaps in midfield.
Despite his huge wages at Al-Hilal (which he would be willing to cut), he is available for around €15 million this January as his contract expires this summer.
However, according to two sources, Real Madrid have now entered the race for the midfielder.
Speaking to MBC, former Al-Hilal and Wolves player Sami Al-Jaber has claimed that the Spanish Giants are eyeing up the Portuguese midfielder for a move on a free in the summer.
He said, “I fear Neves will move from Al Hilal to Real Madrid for free after his contract with the club expires at the end of this season.
“There are Premier League clubs that want to sign Neves, and the contracts they are offering him are for three years, meaning until he turns 31. Real Madrid is also interested.” Spanish outlet AS has also reinforced these claims by reporting Madrid’s interest in Neves.
United need to work fast
When Real Madrid enters the race for a player, they normally get their man. A deal for Neves would be no different.
However, United should be doing everything in its power to bring in the former Porto and Wolves captain. Not only does he have years of Premier League experience, something the club have valued highly with the signings of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, but his profile would be perfect.
Being able to play as a sole defensive midfielder, in a midfield two and three, he is a perfectly versatile option that would provide balance.
As a player, he has proven to be not only defensively astute at sniffing out danger, but also to match that with brilliant technical ability, as he showed in a struggling Wolves team, similar to Cunha.
With brilliant leadership skills too, having him as a short-term option and then as a squad player as the club pushes for a return to the Champions League would be vital.
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