Former Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves has emerged as a potential option for Manchester United in the January transfer window.
Manchester United had an impressive summer transfer window, with Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Šeško and Senne Lammens joining the club.
But once again, the Reds did not strengthen in the middle of the pitch despite many fans calling for the signing of a midfielder like Carlos Baleba.
United are planning to address that area of the pitch soon, with at least two senior signings in midfield expected over the next year.
An addition could even be made in the January transfer window if the right player is available and Ruben Neves appears to be an option United are considering.
Neves’ stance on January transfer revealed
Neves, 28, currently plays in Saudi Arabia for Al-Hilal but he spent six years at Wolves where he became a solid Premier League player.
Recent reports have suggested that United are interested in trying to sign the midfielder in the January window to bolster their options in the engine room.
Now, SamC Reports has claimed that Neves would be open to a return to Europe in January and that he believes he can still play at the highest level.
Neves remains a regular in the Portuguese national team but a move back to the Premier League wouldn’t hurt his chances of ensuring a place in their 2026 World Cup squad.
The aforementioned report also claimed that Neves would be able to leave Al-Hilal for around £25 million, which is an affordable amount for the Reds.
Why United are interested in Neves
United have turned their attention to signing Premier League proven players under INEOS and Neves would be another example of that.
While he has been out in Saudi for a couple of years, the 28-year-old was highly rated during his time at Wolves and the price tag makes a deal attractive for United.
Read More: Manchester United could take step closer to giving Premier League star “dream” £40m move
Next summer, the Reds will be looking to make a statement signing in midfield with players like Adam Wharton and Elliot Anderson linked with a move, but that signing would cost at least £70 million.
Signing Neves for £25 million feels similar to the deal to sign Noussair Mazraoui for around £15 million. A reliable and technical player for a low-cost fee who can raise the levels within the squad.
Make sure to follow UtdDistrict on X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok to never miss out on any of our Manchester United content. Our podcast, What the Devil?, is streamed live every Thursday at 14:00 pm (GMT) on the United View YouTube channel.