The financial barrier preventing Ruben Neves from returning to the Premier League appears to have collapsed, with fresh reports revealing that Manchester United could land their primary midfield target for a cut-price fee in the region of £20m.
Contrary to earlier fears that Al-Hilal would demand a full recoup of their original investment, the Manchester Evening News (citing Football Insider) reports that the Saudi Pro League champions have been forced to accept a significantly lower valuation due to the player’s contract status.
The Contract Twist
The crucial detail that has reshaped this transfer saga is Neves’ contract expiry. The report confirms that the 28-year-old’s deal in Riyadh expires in the summer of 2026. This leaves Al-Hilal in a precarious position: sell now for a guaranteed fee, or lose a £47m asset for absolutely nothing in six months.
For a club backed by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), losing money is not an existential crisis, but losing face is. Recouping £20m now represents smart business for a player who can sign a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs immediately. This revelation shifts the leverage entirely into the hands of United’s sporting director Dan Ashworth.
A No-Brainer for INEOS?
At £50m, Neves was a gamble. At £20m, he represents exactly the kind of "market opportunity" that INEOS have promised to exploit. For a fee lower than what United paid for Sofyan Amrabat’s loan fee and wages combined, they could secure a proven Premier League captain in his prime years.
From a Profit and Sustainability (PSR) perspective, a £20m amortised fee is negligible. It allows United to fix their midfield "engine room" problem immediately without compromising their summer budget for a marquee striker. For interim boss Michael Carrick, adding a player with Neves’ distribution and leadership for such a low fee would be a game-changing gift for the second half of the season.
The 'Green Light' for Carrick
This price drop effectively removes the biggest hurdle to the deal. Neves has been consistently linked with a return to England, and his tactical profile—capable of operating as a lone pivot or in a double, controlling tempo, and threatening from set-pieces—is a direct upgrade on United’s current options.
With Casemiro struggling for mobility, Neves offers an immediate injection of quality. If the fee is indeed £20m, the expectation is that United will move quickly to wrap up the deal before other suitors wake up to the bargain availability of one of Europe’s best deep-lying playmakers.
Check the latest Ruben Neves next club odds as the market reacts to this drastic price correction.