Manchester United defeated Man City at the weekendplaceholder image
Manchester United defeated Man City at the weekend | AFP via Getty Images
Michael Carrick could be getting a new midfielder before the end of the January transfer window.
Man United manager Michael Carrick got off to a fantastic start over the weekend, as his side beat Man City 2-0 at Old Trafford to climb into the top five. It is understood that the Red Devils aren’t going to make any major transfer moves in January, but they could still make some additions.
Midfield is a big position of concern for United, and it is understood that they will invest heavily in a new midfielder in the summer. They have been linked to Brighton’s Carlos Baleba, who is expected to cost over £100m, based on Brighton’s valuation of the 22-year-old.
However, reports suggest they could sign a cheaper midfielder in January to give Carrick an extra option in the middle of the park, alongside Kobbie Mainoo, Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte.
Man United ‘submit bid’ for Ruben Neves
According to Spanish outlet Fichajes, Man United have submitted a formal bid for the Al-Hilal midfielder, and are hoping to bring him in before the end of the season. The 28-year-old is a key player for the Saudi side, but they are reportedly open to selling him for around £19m because of his high wage bill. Chelsea is also said to be keen on the 28-year-old.
He has been at Al-Hilal since July 2023, when he joined from Wolves. He has extensive Premier League experience, having made over 250 appearances during his time at Molineux, scoring 30 goals and providing 13 assists.
Neves is a physical midfielder who could provide Carrick with some more firepower. He is also dangerous from set-pieces and has experience playing alongside Bruno Fernandes for the Portugal national team.
Man United also linked to England midfielder
Neves isn’t the only midfielder who has been linked with a January move to Old Trafford, as the Red Devils are looking for someone who has proven they can perform in the Premier League.
Man City and Newcastle are both linked with Scott as well, so it could turn into a bidding war. Scott is hoping to secure a spot in Tuchel’s World Cup squad, so if he were to move to United, that could seriously improve his chances, as he would be playing for a bigger club, in competition to qualify for European football.
Scott would likely cost a lot more than Neves, but he is much younger and is more of a long-term fix rather than a short-term option. United’s decision will likely depend on who they want to sign in the summer.
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