Palmeiras midfielder Richard Rios has been linked with a move to Manchester United
Palmeiras midfielder Richard Rios has been linked with a move to Manchester United
Since Manchester United lost the Europa League final to Tottenham on May 21, talk has materialised day-by-day calling for a desperate overhaul of the playing squad.
Ruben Amorim's first 'phase' at Old Trafford has been faced with countless problems ranging from player fall-out, disappointing results and now a lack of some much-needed transfer business.
So far, United have bought just Matheus Cunha. The Brazilian's £62.5million release clause was triggered at the start of June and he's already been introduced to his teammates at Carrington. But, despite Amorim admitting a number of times that his team requires attention, United have not yet acted.
Their interest in Bryan Mbeumo has been ongoing for well over a month now with two bids turned down by Brentford. Any hope that the 25-year-old would be part of United's pre-season squad have rapidly dwindled and the apparent lack of a third offer has cast doubts over an actual deal happening.
Whilst the main focus for Jason Wilcox and the recruitment team at United is to sign Mbeumo sooner rather than later, the Reds have other positions that need strengthening. One of them areas at centre-forward with United expected to sign a striker with better goalscoring prowess than Rasmus Hojlund.
However, a new midfielder has also been tipped to come in. Amorin's dream front three of Mbeumo, Cunha and a striker means Bruno Fernandes is expected to be play in one of the two central midfielder spots. One issue Amorim has, though, is that there isn't an obvious candidate to partner him.
Manuel Ugarte and Casemiro both featured heavily for United last term with Kobbie Mainoo's season being stagnated by injuries. The likes of Ederson, Wilfried Ndidi and Douglas Luiz have all been linked with coming to the club but Palmeiras' Richard Rios is a name that doesn't seem to be fading from United's catalogue of reported transfer targets.
Rios has flourished at the Brazilian outfit and is one of the many players to come away from the Club World Cup with a glowing reputation. The box-to-box midfielder has been mentioned for a couple of weeks now but reports in Italy have suggested that United have finally entered the race.
Gazzetta dello Sport has claimed that the Reds have stepped up their interest in the 25-year-old and have taken 'concrete steps' towards signing him. Roma have recently failed with a £22m bid for the Colombian, falling short of Palmeiras' £26m asking price.
It leaves the door open for United to swoop in and add him to Amorim's squad. Many may question the Reds' need for a midfielder of Rios' profile but having an energetic character alongside a technician and creator like Fernandes could be a perfect piece of United's puzzle.
Heavy emphasis is on the two wing-backs in Amorim's system. Getting Patrick Dorgu and Diogo Dalot, or Amad, wide and forward is pivotal to United gaining success. The problem they've had at times is that the lack of energy and connection in the middle of the park has left them short when wing-backs go forward.
Rios' arrival wouldn't guarantee an immediate starting place at Old Trafford. However, there is reason for the energetic and combative midfielder to be signed. Not only would he add the liveliness required to free Fernandes to pull the string in the final third, but he would provide the defensive stability to allow the wing-backs to stretch the pitch and cause havoc out wide.
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