Benfica’s £86 million goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin could be on his way to the Premier League in the summer with his agent playfully stoking the fires of a Manchester United ‘mystery’.
Despite the ongoing struggles of Andre Onana – unconvincing again during Thursday’s topsy-turvy 4-3 win at Wolves – there is nothing yet to suggest that the summer signing form Inter Milan is fighting for his future at Old Trafford.
Reported interest in the likes of Mike Maignan have been dismissed, with Manchester United expected to prioritise reinforcements at centre-forward, centre-half, on the wing and in the middle of the park during the first off-season under INEOS control.
That has not stopped the rumour mill from turning, however, with the agent of Benfica and Ukraine shot-stopper Anatoliy Trubin refusing to rule out a potential Manchester switch for her extremely highly-rated client.
Benfica goalkeeper linked with Manchester United move
“(The Premier League) could be a good opportunity,” Maryna Andriienko tells reporter Povoroznyuk Dmytro, via O Jogo. “Let’s wait for the summer. Trubin could get there (England) with even more visibility.
“Manchester United? I’m not going to talk about it. It’ll be a secret. Let’s keep it a mystery.”
Trubin, who has a 100 million euro release clause in his contract, is not the first Benfica player to be mentioned alongside the Red Devils. But Manchester United certainly appear to have more use for Antonio Silva and Joao Neves, a duo of ‘world-class’ potential who could arrive to strengthen some of the weaker areas of Erik ten Hag’s squad. Silva is one of Europe’s most promising centre-halves, and may replace an ageing and injury-prone Raphael Varane.
Ditto Neves with Casemiro.
Manchester United eyeing Portuguese raid
“He is the most complete of all (the Benfica midfielders),” Neves’ former youth coach Luis Castro explains. “My friends ask me; ‘If (Orkun) Kokcu costs 25 million euros, how much will Joao Neves cost?’. He will be worth much more than 25 million euros!”.
“His quality is visible to everyone. He does everything well. At this age, he seems to have more experience, and that is the result of the speed at which his brain works. He’s got great defensive and offensive positioning. He reads the whole game.
“(He) has everything. He’s very strong in every aspect, even in the air. (Neves can) play in any league in the world. The Premier League is the best league in the world. And not only would he be able to adapt, he would play and shine.
“I believe that, if and when he makes the jump, he will be ready.”
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
