Manchester United can sign a strongman for free next summer, and he is willing to cut his salary by half to return to the Premier League! He can also buy it in the winter window for 20 million

Manchester United is actively looking for a new midfielder, and now a very cost-effective transfer target seems to have emerged. According to the British "Daily Briefing" report, Portugal international Ruben Neves is eager to return to the Premier League. His contract with Saudi Arabian professional league giant Riyadh Crescent expires next summer.

It is reported that Manchester United has contacted the agent of the 28-year-old Portuguese giant to discuss letting him join directly. But if Neves transfers on a free transfer, there may be competition from many European clubs. Teams such as Tottenham and Newcastle United are also considered to be interested in the former Wolves player.

As early as when Neves played for Wolves for 6 years, Manchester United had many transfer rumors with him, but in the end the Portuguese strongman chose Saudi Arabia's Jinyuan Football. In 2023, he transferred to Riyadh Crescent for 47 million pounds. His weekly salary in the Middle East is as high as 410,000 pounds, and he enjoys tax-free treatment, which is enough to allow him to achieve financial freedom.

Neves frankly explained that the reason why he left was because of the money. "Of course one of them is the revenue issue, which of course you can't hide. But when we look at the football program in Saudi Arabia, I know a lot of people think we're just saying that to make excuses, but that's not true. When Saudi Arabia presented this project to us, we realized how big it is. I don't think people understand at all what's changing here, the level of football here. Improve."

Now, having made 60 million pounds in three years, Neves, who is already financially free, hopes to return to Europe. He will definitely need to take a salary cut. It is said that after the World Cup, he may accept a weekly salary of 150,000 pounds to return to Europe. For Manchester United, this amount is not a problem. If a strong player with rich Premier League experience can be obtained for free, it will be of great help to the thickness of Amorim's lineup.

However, "Insight Offside" reported that some European teams, such as Galatasaray and Fenerbahce of the Turkish Super League, may cut the deal in advance in the January winter window. As long as 20 million euros, they can convince Riyadh Crescent to sell. After all, they will get nothing by next summer.

There is also a theory that Neves may still stay in Saudi Arabia to play football, just like his teammate Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. The current transfer rumors may just be "raising the price." Transfer expert Ben Jacobs said: "It has become more difficult to introduce Ruben Neves. It seems that he has a chance to extend his journey in Saudi Arabia. Many sources feel that he will follow Milin's example and determine his future."

Although Neves has a chance to extend his journey in Saudi Arabia. Although he has played football in Saudi Arabia for a long time, he has maintained good condition and was even selected as a midfield candidate for FIFA's 2025 best team. Next to him is another Neves-Joao Neves of Paris Saint-Germain, which can be considered a perfect complement.

Compared with Neves, the other Premier League midfielders that Manchester United is interested in are all expensive. Nottingham Forest's Elliott Anderson, Crystal Palace's Adam Walton and Brighton's Carlos Baleba are all priced at 100 million pounds. I'm afraid it will cost at least 80 million pounds to really buy them.

Joao Gomez, the successor to Ruben Neves' Wolves No. 8 jersey, is cheaper and also costs £44 million. Therefore, although Neves' age may not meet Sir Jim Ratcliffe's youth standards, the Portuguese giant, who will only turn 29 in March next year, is in his prime, and a team also needs this kind of Mesozoic player.