Manchester United are reportedly considering a surprise January move for former Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Ruben Neves, who could be available at a significant discount from Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal.
A bargain midfield option emerges
According to fresh reports, Al Hilal are prepared to accept a fee in the region of £20 million for the Portuguese international when the transfer window reopens. This represents a substantial drop from the £47 million they paid to Wolves for his services in the summer of 2023. The key factor is Neves's contractual situation, with his current deal set to expire in the summer of 2026, meaning he would be entering its final year.
The 28-year-old is said to have no plans to extend his stay in Saudi Arabia, prompting his club to consider a January sale rather than risk losing him for a reduced fee later. This development has put United on alert, as they have long admired the player. The Red Devils were linked with Neves before his original departure from Molineux, and those connections have now been revived.
Why Neves fits the United profile
For United's manager, Ruben Amorim, Neves presents a potentially shrewd and affordable solution to bolster his midfield options. Other reported targets, such as Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton and Brighton's Carlos Baleba, are likely to command fees exceeding £100 million, making a deal for Neves look like a relative bargain.
Neves boasts extensive Premier League experience, having played over 250 times for Wolves across six seasons, famously captaining them to promotion in 2018. His technical quality and passing range have never been in doubt. Since moving to the Middle East, he helped Al Hilal win the Saudi Pro League title in his first season, going the entire campaign unbeaten. This season, under new manager Simone Inzaghi, he has remained a key figure, scoring four league goals already.
The Bruno Fernandes connection
This potential move comes amid ongoing speculation surrounding United captain Bruno Fernandes and a future transfer to Saudi Arabia. Al Hilal failed with a bid for Fernandes last summer, and the player himself hinted at a possible future move in a recent interview that has circulated this month.
Fernandes told Canal 11 that while he decided to stay at United after talks with Amorim, he was "hurt" by the club's perceived ambivalence towards his potential exit. "From the club’s side, I felt a bit like, ‘if you leave, it’s not so bad for us,’" he revealed. This backdrop adds an intriguing layer to United's interest in his international teammate, Neves.
For United, securing a proven, top-level midfielder for a reported £20m could be exceptional business in a notoriously difficult January market, allowing funds to be allocated elsewhere in the squad as Amorim continues his rebuild at Old Trafford.
