Man Utd eyeing Wolves star Ruben Neves | OneFootball

Manchester United have been handed an update in their attempts to sign Wolves star Ruben Neves in this January transfer window.

What’s the story?

According to reports earlier this month, it was suggested that Ralf Rangnick’s side had their sights set on the Portugal international as they looked to bolster their midfield options.

Should Man Utd sign Neves?

Now, it’s being claimed that Wolves are feeling more confident about keeping hold of the midfielder before deadline day next week, and that it would only really take an extraordinary offer for him to leave.

Man Utd’s new Paul Scholes

With United fans not exactly the biggest fans of the ‘McFred’ partnership in midfield – they came in for some immense criticism in the 5-0 defeat to Liverpool earlier this season – a move for Neves would see the club get the closest thing they have had to Paul Scholes.

Neves has long been the midfield orchestrator for Wolves, and in the seasons he has been with them, he has not slipped below an average of 1.6 shots, 1.6 tackles or 1.5 interceptions per game, via WhoScored.

It’s no wonder he’s been likened to the playing style of ex-Liverpool legend Xabi Alonso and described as a “deep-lying orchestrator” as well as a “pure talent.”

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Scholes comparisons have also been made, with former United man Paul Parker outlining the similarities between the two just last summer.

He said: “When you talk about someone striking the ball, there’s only one player I can remember doing that, and that’s Paul Scholes.

“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. Someone like Neves, coming to play with his countryman Fernandes, you’ll have someone who can play in deep areas and United have lacked that for a long time.”

And, After watching him score a stunning goal against Espanyol in the Europa League back in 2020, Wolves journalist Joe Edwards said: “Ruben Neves, you absolute beauty! That is just pure talent, an artist at work. Sheer excellence. No words can do it justice. It’s just phenomenal. And it’s not the first time. Won’t be the last either.”