Manchester United could have to pay up to £250million if they were to sign Wolves and West Ham duo Ruben Neves and Declan Rice.
The Red Devils’ next transfer priority appears to be strengthening their options in midfield . Paul Pogba looks set to depart the club on a free transfer at the end of the campaign, while the experienced Nemanja Matic will enter the final year of his deal at the end of the campaign.
Nevertheless, it is an area of the field United fans and pundits have been crying out for reinforcements, even when they managed to secure the arrivals of Jadon Sancho, Raphael Varane and Cristiano Ronaldo last summer. Unfortunately, any new midfield option would likely require Old Trafford chiefs to break the bank, as Neves and Rice have seemingly had nine figure price tags slapped on them.
"I don't know if it's Manchester United or other teams, what I know is we have a special player with us," Wolves boss Bruno Lage said about Neves. “What he is doing this season is very good.
"What he is doing this season is very good. I think also the way we play, he can show a better Ruben, and also the way he plays puts our team on a different level.
"But who knows, when you have a top player like him in that specific position, that can defend and attack, and is a top professional and a great man, the big teams are there with £100m to buy these kinds of players."
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Neves has enjoyed another fantastic campaign at the heart of the Wolves midfield. The Portuguese international has also been linked with moves to Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, but United may have entered the race for his signature.
Meanwhile, West Ham on-field captain Rice has been linked with a move to Old Trafford for many seasons. The Englishman has also entrenched himself as one of the best central defensive midfielders in the world. David Moyes has moulded him into a top quality box to box midfielder, which has seen Rice make vital contributions in the final third for the Hammers.
However, Rice’s incredible performances and the fact that he still has two years left on his contract at the Hammers, means West Ham will be able to command whatever fee they desire. And this will not bode well for Rice or the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City, as they would need to shatter the £100m Premier League record City paid for Jack Grealish last summer.
“The first thing to say is that he is not for sale,” Moyes told reporters when asked about the possibility of selling Rice. “If you are interested, well, it will be north of that. One hundred (million pounds) was cheap last summer.
“One hundred and fifty just now would be minimum but he is not for sale. What I do know is that it means there are only certain clubs that could even consider it.”
A £150m move for Rice would make him the third most expensive player in world football, behind the £200m and £160m deals Paris Saint-Germain paid for Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, between 2017 and 2018. However, United’s almost desperate need for a new central midfielder may require them to pay the ludicrously expensive bullet.
