Man Utd 'prepare offer' for £84m star who lit up Copa America
Manchester United have identified a new midfield target after being quoted a huge price for Paris Saint-Germain star Manuel Ugarte, who remains their top target
Colombia's midfielder Richard Rios celebrates scoring at Copa America (Image: Getty)
Manchester United are reportedly eyeing a summer move for Palmeiras midfielder Richard Rios, according to Brazilian reports.
The Red Devils are on the hunt for a new midfielder after spending a total of £94million on striker Joshua Zirkzee and defender Leny Yoro. They have set their sights on Paris Saint-Germain's Manuel Ugarte, but with a hefty price tag of £59m, they are exploring other options.
United have also been scouting Benfica's 19-year-old prodigy Joao Neves, who could potentially be signed for less than his £101m release clause. However, their search has led them to Rios, who stood out during his performance at the Copa America.
Rios was instrumental in helping Colombia reach the final of South America's top competition, where they were defeated 1-0 by Argentina. The 24-year-old scored in their 5-0 victory over Panama and formed a strong partnership with James Rodriguez in Nestor Lorenzo's midfield.
According to Goal Brazil, United have approached Palmeiras about Rios' availability, while AC Milan are also showing interest. Erik ten Hag's team are said to be prepared to bid £17m for Rios, but it is doubtful that this will persuade Palmeiras to part ways with him. He is said to have a release clause of £84m.
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Palmeiras are not under any pressure to sell, having already sold some of their key players. They have transferred Endrick to Real Madrid for a potential fee of £60m and have also struck deals with Chelsea for Estevao Willian and West Ham for Luis Guilherme.
In a record-breaking deal, 17-year-old sensation Willian is set to move to Chelsea next summer in a spectacular deal potentially worth £51m. In another considerable acquisition, West Ham has secured the services of 18-year-old Guilherme for £25.5m on a five-year contract and will join Julen Loptegui's team in the upcoming season.
These substantial transfers have prompted Palmeiras boss Abel Ferreira to declare a halt to further deals this transfer window. "We have already made a lot of money from sales," he said. "Now, we need to focus on alternatives on the field."
The same narrative was echoed by an insider source, who told Goal: "What is certain is that the club will not negotiate with Rios in this window. It is normal for interested parties to appear, but the club's position on the matter is clear."
Richard Rios had an excellent Copa America campaign (Image: Getty)
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United may need to release some players before splurging on a new midfield connection. Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof and Casemiro are all open for offers.
However, a stern warning has been issued about Scott McTominay from Erik ten Hag, following a bid from Fulham.
In a post-match interview following United's friendly victory over Rangers, Ten Hag stated: "I think we have very good players so they'll always have an interest from other clubs. If you score 10 goals in a season and perform very well for Scotland there will be an interest."
"We want to actually keep him because he's a very important player for our squad. We've seen what he can contribute last season. When we had the sixes and he could play in a more advanced role, he's a highly interesting player for our team."
