The Red Devils are expected to be busy in the transfer market this summer
Where to start this summer with Manchester United. Maybe it is in the centre of defence, where Erik ten Hag is beset with injuries and inconsistent play right now; perhaps it is at the attacking end, where Rasmus Hojlund is still wheezing and stumbling under the weight of expectation; perhaps it is even in the dugout, where Erik ten Hag’s future at Old Trafford is a subject of rumours that swirl and swirl?
Despite winning the FA Cup last month, the Red Devils will require a complete overhaul in the upcoming weeks. Optimism is stumbling after United’s worst-ever Premier League result, and with those around them poised to get stronger by the day, the impending summer transfer market may prove to be a pivotal moment.
While there will be a need for multiple additions at different positions, none should actually be Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s top priority and his open wallet more than the centre of midfield. Although Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo currently seem like essential members of this United team, the Red Devils are severely short on long-term alternatives. Mason Mount has had a terrible first season in Manchester, Christian Eriksen appears to be a faded talent, Sofyan Amrabat is unlikely to return next season, Casemiro has had a dramatic decline in form recently, and Scott McTominay continues to be a source of controversy every week.
Reinforcements are therefore necessary, and in that light, Joao Neves, the starlet of Benfica, is one of the most fascinating associated names. As one of the most sought-after young players in continental football right now, United is reportedly in the running to wrest the 19-year-old away from Estádio da Luz this summer, according to Portuguese sources.
The Red Devils sent scouts to watch the teenager on several occasions during the 2023–24 season, according to Portuguese outlet Record, which Sport Witness cited. Meanwhile, Caught Offside reports that Neves is now regarded as a “priority” in the Old Trafford boardroom, and Spanish publication Nacional asserts that super-agent Jorge Mendes is attempting to arrange a “galactic” deal between the Red Devils and Benfica.
The fee would undoubtedly be extraordinary. There are rumours circulating that United spent more than £85.7 million to get Neves, and they may even be prepared to break their transfer record by spending more than the roughly £90 million they spent on Paul Pogba in 2016.
It remains to be seen, of course, to what extent these financial specificities hold true, but Neves is unquestionably a talent worth chasing. Similar to Mainoo described earlier, he possesses a talent and poise that greatly outshine his age, and his potential is nearly unfathomably tremendous. The five-cap Portugal international stands out for his technical skill, agility, and poise in confined spaces. He also shows a willingness to drop deep to recover possession in defensive zones, which he uses to ignite attacking phases with his excellent distribution range. With Neves and Mainoo in the middle of the pitch, along with a few other smart additions dotted across the roster, it does appear that United might develop not just a team, but a dynasty around.
And ultimately, that has to be the goal here. The Red Devils are one of the biggest clubs in English, if not European football, and they find themselves on the precipice of slipping into irrelevancy. The job this summer, and in transfer windows to come, is to assemble a dressing room capable of reestablishing themselves as perennial Premier League title contenders. There would be few better ways of beginning that process than going all out to lure Neves to Old Trafford.
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