Bengaluru, Aug 24: Manchester United significantly bolstered their squad during the summer transfer window sealing the signings of Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund for around a fee of £73 million and Raphael Varane from Real Madrid for around £42 million.
However,
their
squad
still
has
plenty
to
be
desired
if
the
Red
Devils
have
to
challenge
the
likes
of
Manchester
City,
Chelsea,
and
Liverpool
for
the
Premier
League
title
and
one
such
particular
area
of
concern
is
the
lack
of
a
quality
defensive
midfielder.
The
Red
Devils
have
been
strongly
linked
with
Eduardo
Camavinga
of
Rennes
as
well
as
Atletico
Madrid
midfielder
Saul
Niguez
during
the
whole
summer
but
neither
of
them
is
a
typical
number
six.
Camavinga
and
Saul
are
both
excellent
midfielders
but
they
are
best
suited
in
box-to-box
roles.
What
United
need
is
a
natural
number
six
who
is
much
beyond
just
a
destroyer
and
Wolves
star
Ruben
Neves
is
exactly
that
kind
of
a
player.
A
long-term
target
of
the
Red
Devils,
Neves
has
been
strongly
linked
with
an
exit
from
Molineux
this
summer
and
should
be
the
absolute
priority
for
Ole
Gunnar
Solskjaer.
Proven
in
the
Premier
League
already,
Neves
would
be
a
low-risk
signing
for
United,
and
going
by
their
poor
track
record
of
transfer
in
the
last
few
years,
they
must
make
the
right
moves
in
the
market.
Wolves
are
believed
to
be
seeking
a
fee
of
around
£40
million
for
their
priced
asset
which
seems
more
than
reasonable
for
the
24-year-old
who
has
plenty
of
years
left
ahead
of
him.
Neves
is
a
modern-day
number
six
with
excellent
defensive
discipline
and
positional
awareness
and
his
eye
for
a
pass
are
matched
by
very
few
players
in
his
position.
Neves
is
blessed
with
an
incredible
range
of
passing
and
likes
to
dictate
the
game
from
deep.
He
is
also
pretty
strong
physically
and
decent
in
the
air
can
provide
solid
cover
for
his
defenders.
Equally
effective
in
a
number
eight
role,
Neves
can
also
carry
the
ball
forward
when
needed
and
has
a
knack
of
testing
the
goalkeeper
from
long
range
often
scoring
crackers.
Despite
playing
for
a
struggling
Wolves
side
last
season
and
that
too
mostly
as
a
number
six,
Neves
scored
five
goals
last
season
while
assisting
one.
He
created
an
average
of
1.1
chances
per
90
minutes
which
is
only
bettered
by
Bruno
Fernandes
and
Paul
Pogba
who
created
2.7
and
1.2
chances
respectively.
Neves' passing accuracy of 84.4% last season was not particularly impressive but that seems justified considering the tactics and form of Wolves last season with Neves instructed to play risky and direct passes.
Neves averaged more tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes than any other Manchester United midfielder last season and that is exactly what the Red Devils were lacking desperately.
He managed an average of 3 tackles per 90 minutes while intercepting 2.2. Neves has been one of the best players outside the top six clubs ever since he arrived in the Premier League and his game will further improve in a better team with better teammates around him and United should take this opportunity with their eyes closed.