Manchester United may well need to dip into the January transfer market if the club’s struggles in midfield continue.
Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United are currently just five points outside of the top four and have miraculously stayed in touch with these top sides after a poor start to the season.
The gaps in the midfield, in particular, have been a big concern for Ten Hag this season and something needs to be done. Casemiro has been in and out of the side due to his poor form and may need to be sold, another anchorman midfielder is needed.
Everton midfielder Amadou Onana spoke out about the interest from United and other clubs in a recent interview, but there’s another player whom the Red Devils should move for.
Ruben Neves should be targeted
When Ruben Neves was striding around the Molineux pitch for Wolverhampton Wanderers, firing in 35-yard goals here and completing a 70-yard crossfield pass to his teammate there, one consistent theme emerged.
Why aren’t United, who are crying out for a midfielder like him, making a move? Neves finally decided the time was right to leave Wolves this summer but instead of moving to one of the Premier League’s top sides, he decided to move to the Saudi Pro League.
After four months in the division, however, it seems that Neves wants to come back to England with Newcastle United and Arsenal believed to be keen according to talkSPORT.
The midfielder plays as either the deepest in the engine room or as a box-to-box type and his statistics tell you he could be exactly what United need.
He completes 6.78 progressive passes per 90 on average, something that United have struggled with from their midfielders, not enough creativity and passes forward.
Neves also ranks highly on interceptions (17th best), blocks (3rd best) and clearances (2nd best) up against Europe’s top five leagues, so he seems like the perfect signing for the Red Devils, who need a complete midfielder.
One of the players whom Neves is likened to by FBREF is Casemiro which tells you he could well excel in the defensive side of the game like the Brazilian does but also add the flair and accuracy on the ball that the former Real Madrid midfielder is struggling to offer at the moment.
And best of all, he is still only 26. In wanting to return to Europe, Neves may have recognised an error in moving to Saudi Arabia, and if that’s the case, Manchester United should not simply let him switch to a Premier League rival.
‘Hits the ball like Paul Scholes’
Former United defender Paul Parker was full of praise for the Portuguese midfielder when he spoke to the Talking Devils podcast back in 2021.
“When you talk about someone striking the ball there’s only one player I can remember doing that and that is Paul Scholes,” Parker said.
“If he was playing for a Manchester United with the quality around him you will see his game improve… players come to United and lift another level.”
Ten Hag needs a midfielder in January and Neves, who has featured 17 times for Al-Hilal this season, may be allowed to leave the Saudi side for a decent price. United need to be all over that deal.
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