Not Fernandes – Man Utd signing this 22-year-old UEFA Nations League winner would end their midfield woes

According to a report from Daily Express, Manchester United are interested in signing Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s chance for a major squad overhaul is nearing its end but midfield reinforcements are yet to be sorted.

Marquee player, Paul Pogba, has been linked with a summer exit and the Red Devils need to look at replacements.

Whilst the priority turns out to be Sporting Lisbon player Bruno Fernandes, a deal hasn’t been reached yet. And this is the time they should turn their head towards his compatriot, Neves.

Is Neves the right man for Man Utd?

Following his impressive spell in the Championship in 2017/18, Neves enjoyed similar success in the Premier League the last term.

Being an integral part of Nuno Espirito Santo’s revolutionary squad, the ex-Porto man racked up 5 goals and 4 assists, helping the Wanderers earn a Europa League qualification spot.

Later, the 22-year-old took part in the UEFA Nations League where Portugal ended as the winners.

Neves is known for his long-range shots and one which took the cake is the belter he scored against Liverpool in the FA Cup. He can play either as a defensive midfielder or as a central midfielder.

Elsewhere at Old Trafford, apart from the Pogba exit-links and the recent departure of Ander Herrera, United should also look into Nemanja Matic, who has already entered his 30s and is in the twilight of his career.

With that being said, Neves would be an optimal solution and can fit anywhere in the middle of the park.

The Portuguese prospect doesn’t fall into the category of a regular holding midfielder, as he is offensive-minded.

Even in terms of stats from the last term, Neves completed a pass success percentage of 81 with an average of 2.1 shots attempted per game. Defensively, he averaged 2.1 tackles and 2.1 interceptions with 1.3 clearances.

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A shrewd passer of the ball, he is also adept at through balls, direct set-pieces and moreover, he holds together his offensive and defensive duties.

Solskjaer can highly benefit from the services of the Portuguese midfielder, and with his inclusion, United would have more depth into their midfield.

Final Verdict

United have already made two exciting signings of Daniel James and Wan- Bissaka. Neves would be a perfect answer to their midfield conundrum, and it would further strengthen their hopes of restoring the former glory.