Man United could save £80m on Joao Neves transfer alternative with Nice contract advantage for the star midfielder

Man United could save £80m on Joao Neves transfer alternative with Nice contract advantage for the star midfielder

Manchester United appear to be targeting a new midfielder if the latest transfer rumours are to be believed.

According to French news outlet L’Equipe, United are interested in signing Nice star Khephren Thuram.

The report states that the Reds are considering a move for Thuram, with AC Milan and Juventus also supposedly in the running, while Liverpool have previously been linked with the midfielder.

It has been reported that Nice, owned by INEOS, would demand €20million-€30million (£17m-£26m) to let Thuram leave the club this summer.

Thuram has just one year remaining on his contract with the Ligue 1 club and there appears to be no sign of the midfielder putting pen to paper on an extension anytime soon.

Thuram is not the only midfielder to be linked with United. Recent reports have speculated that Benfica star Joao Neves is also a target for the Reds this summer.

Neves is thought to have a €120million (£102million) release clause in his contract at Benfica.

Fabrizio Romano has claimed that the Primeira Liga club have no intention of letting the 19-year-old leave this summer for any fee lower than the aforementioned release clause, despite the apparent interest from United.

It remains to be seen if the interest from United in both Thuram and Neves proves to be genuine.

If the Reds are determined to bring a new midfielder to Old Trafford, then a move for Neves may end up taking up the majority of the club’s transfer budget.

As a result, signing Thuram for potentially £80 million less may end up being the shrewd decision for Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos Group.

However, if Neves is a priority target for United then some negotiation will be needed to try and convince Benfica to lower their valuation of the midfielder this summer