Manchester United have been surprisingly very active in the transfer market so far, making approaches for transfer targets. They have already announced Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna and Leny Yoro from LOSC Lille.
With attack and defence looking more beefed up than before, it’s time for the Red Devils to turn to midfield. They have been extensively linked with a move for Manuel Ugarte from PSG with the player promised to the Red Devils.
Read – After Yoro, Man Utd have deal in place to sign £41.9million star
One more name that Man Utd have been linked with is Benfica wonderkid Joao Neves. The Red Devils made an initial bid worth around £51m which was rebuffed by the Portuguese giants. Their second bid worth around £59m was received with a similar response.
Since then, things have gone cold from a Man Utd front but this has allowed PSG to swoop in and are close to sealing a deal Benfica to sign Neves, according to Portuguese outlet, Record.
The renowned Portuguese media outlet claim that the teenage sensation has snubbed a move to Old Trafford and prefers to join the Ligue 1 giants.
As per Correio da Manha (via PG), an initial deal of £63m is close to being agreed between Benfica and PSG. The valuation is not too far apart from the Manchester Reds’ second offer and it begs the question as to why the club didn’t try harder.
The answer could lie in the other club involved in this saga, PSG. Man Utd’s might be prioritizing the signing of Ugarte from the French giants and this might have been the reason they decided to pass up on the Neves opportunity. This might turn out to be a blessing in disguise.
If PSG sign the 19-year-old sensation, it gives them all the more reason to let the Uruguayan midfielder leave, considering they also have Vitinha who plays in the same position. This would give Man Utd a free run at signing the player.
Between the two, it has always looked like the Red Devils want Ugarte and he would be a spectacular addition to the midfield. Along with Kobbie Mainoo, the Uruguayan is just the kind of profile the midfield is craving, following Casemiro’s sharp decline.
On face level, Man Utd have missed out on a prodigiously talented European wonderkid. As long as they manage to sign Ugarte, it wouldn’t hurt the club much and this missed opportunity could turn out to be a catalyst in bringing the 23-year-old to Old Trafford.
Neves would be the play progress or United prefer, so could match PSG’s bid, depending on his defensive capabilities in comparison to Ugarte but 4.ZUBIMENDI is probably the better all round player. Only one would be possible, with 6.RABIOT (free, but wages could see Amrabat coming back) & developing Toby Collyer as cover.
In my head, we need 3-4 quality CB’s, so WLT see 2.DE LIGT with Licha (leaders) & 8.BRANTHWAITE with 3.YORO, if we can offload Maguire & Lindelof.
The versatile maverick 5.KADIOGLU is a no-brainer for me (last chance saloon for Shaw & Malacia) but I hope we keep AWB – he doesn’t HAVE to cross the halfway line but isn’t half as bad as the media would have you believe, though Dalot has earned playing priority.
Having secured 1.ZIRKZEE, we must get rid of Antony & Sancho (do the deal for 7.CHIESA for £20m) and keep Amad.
That’s as near perfect as we could have dreamed and should significantly raise the squad quality bar, deliver consistency across all competitions, bringing United back to challenging & getting A LOT CLOSER to City & Arsenal.
GGMU