Sources: Man United work on signing midfielder, £20m will get deal done
Man United have set their sights on a move to sign Al Hilal midfielder Ruben Neves this month as they aim to bolster Michael Carrick’s squad.
The Saudi Pro League outfit are expected to demand a fee of around £20million for the 28-year-old, but remain reluctant to see him leave this month.
As I revealed on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, it could be a difficult deal for Man United to do given the finances involved and his lofty wages.
However, Neves is out of contract in the summer and will become available on a free as he eyes a return to Europe, and this could be Al Hilal’s last chance to cash in.
This comes after former chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Neves’ agent has contacted Man United over the possibility of a deal this month.
Man United set sights on Ruben Neves deal
Neves is a client of renowned super-agent Jorge Mendes, who has close connections at United and has made contact with the club about the midfielder’s future.
Tottenham and Newcastle are also interested in Neves, and could rival Man United in their pursuit if the midfielder is allowed to leave Al Hilal.
However, there are doubts about whether the deal would be a realistic possibility in the mid-season window as he remains an important player in the Middle East.
Speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast, I explained: “Yeah, obviously Ruben Neves is a top midfielder. He’s done well out in the Saudi Pro League with Al Hilal.
“They don’t really want to lose him, but he is coming to the end of his contract in June and nothing has been agreed as yet, so that has opened to door for a return to Europe.
“It’s a difficult deal to do, Al Hilal want a decent fee of around £20million for him, and then obviously you’ve got his wages as well.
“He’s on a very good deal over in the Saudi Pro League, so it’s not straightforward.
“We know Man United are in the market for midfield reinforcements, but I don’t think it’s a pirority to move for that midfield position this month.
“Although he would be a good fit for United, he can play in that defensive midfield role, I don’t think the Saudi Pro League club are that open to letting him leave.”
Michael Carrick’s January transfer priority revealed
While the addition of a new midfielder remains high on United’s list of priorities, they are first likely to target other key positions.
Football Insider exclusively revealed on 15 January that Carrick wants to sign a left-winger as a priority after holding talks with Jason Wilcox this week.
Matheus Cunha started on the left wing during Man United’s 2-1 defeat to Brighton in the FA Cup, but is not seen as a long-term option in that position.
As a result, the club’s recruitment team are scouring the market for suitable loan options which would fit within their budget for the mid-season window.
This comes after Football Insider revealed on 9 January that Man United have no plans to spend big this month, and instead plan to back the next permanent boss in the summer.
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