Manchester United may abandon the £15 million pursuit of Neves, dissatisfied after talks! Amorin might end up empty-handed in the January window

David Ornstein, a trusted transfer insider at The Athletic, reported that Manchester United could remain inactive in the January transfer window, with no current intentions to bring in Ruben Neves from Al Hilal. Both sides have held talks, but apparently no consensus was achieved.

Ornstein mentioned that with just days before the January window opens, United’s enthusiasm for the 28-year-old Neves is lukewarm. The club might look to add a midfielder in January but is well aware that their top targets—such as Elliott Anderson, Adam Walton, and Carlos Baleba—are unlikely to move.

Recent rumors suggest Manchester United has been in contact with Neves and James Garner, a former academy player now at Everton, but Ornstein said the club has not taken any concrete steps. “It’s expected that United won’t make any signings in January. As for outgoing transfers, there is a possibility, such as players like Koby Mpenza or Joshua Zirkzee, but currently, no concrete progress or news exists,” Ornstein stated.

Ornstein added, “Manchester United needs all the players currently on their roster. We have seen names like Ruben Neves and James Garner linked to them, but as of now, I haven’t heard of any specific developments or news.”

Dean Jones, a Premier League transfer expert at TEAMtalk, also commented that although Manchester United did negotiate with Neves’s agent Jorge Mendes before the January window, it remains uncertain whether the Red Devils will actually pursue signing the former Wolves midfielder.

Neves’s contract with Al Hilal expires at the end of this season. The club has discussed the possibility of signing him in January or next summer, but nothing has progressed so far. Jones said, “Through communications with the relevant agents, Manchester United is aware of Neves’s situation and current status. However, whether a transfer will actually happen remains unclear. Given that United’s primary targets are difficult to acquire, exploring alternative options is entirely feasible.”

Having played six years in the Premier League, Neves can bring valuable experience and excellent judgment to Manchester United, but there remain internal doubts about whether his abilities align with the long-term development goals of the head coach, who is also his compatriot Ruben Amorim. Jones said, “The United manager only wants to sign players he believes will continue to benefit the team beyond this season.”

Besides concerns about his ability, Neves’s wages might also be a barrier to his transfer. The Portuguese defensive midfielder earns a staggering £410,000 per week in Saudi Arabia. Although he is willing to take a pay cut, he may still expect a base salary around £200,000 per week, which Manchester United might be reluctant to meet. United’s summer signings generally earn about £150,000 per week plus some bonuses.

If United signs Neves or another replacement midfielder in the winter window, Amorim worries that he may only be able to bring in one new midfielder in the summer. However, if the current squad overcomes the present challenges, he might have the chance to sign two of Anderson, Walton, and Baleba in the summer.

Regarding the winter transfer strategy, Amorim stated, “We cannot rush in January, make mistakes, and then have to start over. We will continue to follow our plan, with the club always coming first.”