United bringing in Bruno 2.0?

Transfer rumours have it that Erik ten Hag will hope to sign another defensive midfielder before Friday night's transfer deadline.

Fiorentina's Sofyan Amrabat is one option but the Italian club aren't keen on a loan deal because they want a permanent fee. They would consider a loan deal with an obligation to buy. Bayern Munich's Ryan Gravenberch, also wanted by Liverpool, is another possibility but he has agreed personal terms with the Anfield club.

However, there is a 'little-known' name that the Red Devils would like to sign to operate a bit more up the pitch. Manchester United are reportedly in talks with Benfica over 18-year-old wonderkid Joao Neves - who has been dubbed 'Bruno Fernandes 2.0.' Reports say Chelsea are also interested in the teenager and have made their own approach - which makes it a bit more interesting given the whole Enzo Fernandez saga a few transfer windows ago, when Chelsea went through a soap opera for the Argentine's signature out of the Lisbon Eagles.

Now the Manchester giants want to get the upper hand early - the Sun reports that United have held some discussions over a potential deal with Neves keen to play in the Premier League. What also works to United's favour is the way Chelsea handled last January's pursuit of £107m midfielder Fernandez may have made Benfica reluctant to deal with them.

Be that as it may - any move will have to wait 12 months because Benfica don't want to sell Neves just yet. That may change if the reigning Portuguese champions exit the Champions League after the group stage.

United were transformed when they signed Bruno Fernandes from Sporting Lisbon in January 2020 and he is now their captain having scored 65 goals in 188 games for the club. While Fernandes moved at a much older age, Neves would hope to make a similar impact at Old Trafford if a move happened.

Neves has a different profile to Fernandes, however, playing usually as a defensive midfielder or a central midfielder, with tackling and interceptions a strength.

The Portugal Under 21 midfielder made 20 first-team appearances in 2022-23 as part of a breakthrough campaign at the Estadio da Luz.

It is evident that United need to provide help for Casemiro, who looked stretched in their opening two Premier League games against Wolves and Tottenham. Another Bruno would do just fine.