It seems like Manchester United will look to add to Ruben Amorim’s squad in the January transfer window. An attacker is on the shopping list, but the Red Devils boss also seems keen to add to his squad in midfield, too.
Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro have been the first-choice pivot this season, and the Portuguese manager has seemed reluctant to stray too far away from that.
Kobbie Mainoo has yet to start a Premier League game this season despite his obvious talent, and it appears Manuel Ugarte has fallen firmly down the pecking order, too.
The Red Devils could look to sign a midfielder in January, and a new option has seemingly emerged.
Man Utd offered chance to sign ex-Premier League star
It appears that there are a few options for the Manuncian side this winter, should they sign a midfielder.
One of the names who continuously crops up is Nottingham Forest and England star Elliot Anderson. Outside of the Premier League, Stuttgart man Angelo Stiller is also a reported target.
Elsewhere, a new report has emerged from The Times which suggests United have been offered the chance to sign Al-Hilal star Ruben Neves.
The former Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder is out of contract at the end of the season and wants to return to the Premier League.
That move could come as soon as this winter, with United one of the clubs that could have the chance to sign him. As for the fee, it would be a cut-price move due to his contract situation.
Neves – who earns a reported £290k-per-week, as per Capology – may cost the Red Devils just £18m if they were to sign him in the coming weeks.
Why Neves could be Man Utd’s new Scholes
Over the last few years, Neves has been plying his trade in Saudi Arabia for Al-Hilal. He’s been successful, too, helping his side to win four trophies, having only just reached a century of appearances, 106 to be exact.
If United were to bring the Portuguese star to the club this winter, they’d be signing a player ready-made for the Premier League. He has, of course, played 253 times for Wolves, scoring 30 times and assisting a further 13.
A true controller in midfield, the 63-cap Portugal star is synonymous with dictating play. He was constantly among the Premier League’s best when it came to progressive passes.
Neves pass stats vs. PL midfielders per season (per 90 mins)
Season
Progressive passes
Passes into final third
2018/19
6.17 (top 22%)
5.75 (top 13%)
2019/20
6.36 (top 25%)
5.71 (top 14%)
2020/21
7.13 (top 11%)
7.2 (top 6%)
2021/22
6.83 (top 16%)
6.76 (top 9%)
2022/23
6.5 (top 20%)
6.02 (top 12%)
Stats from FBref
His best year for that metric was 2020/21, when he averaged 7.13 per 90 minutes. It is easy to see why Statman Dave called him a “midfield general.”
It is easy to imagine that sort of quality in a midfield at Old Trafford. The 28-year-old, who has won the Nations League twice with Portugal, would add an air of composure and class to the middle of the park, with passes like this a key feature of his game.
Neves was once compared to United legend Paul Scholes by another ex-Red Devils midfielder, Owen Hargreaves.
He said he “reminds” him of the Class of ‘92 star because of “the way he hits the ball so cleanly.”
Scholes is, of course, one of the best midfielders in Premier League history. He lifted the title 11 times and made 716 appearances in total for the Red Devils.
Like Neves, he was a controller in the middle of the park, especially as his career went on, really making things tick for United.
It is easy to see how the Al-Hilal man is similar to Scholes. He is someone who can dictate the tempo of the game in the centre of midfield, just as the former United number 18 did, bringing an air of technical brilliance to his side, too, alongside producing something spectacular from range.
£18m is a bargain in the current transfer market. This could be an ideal move for Amorim to help add to the depth in midfield.
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