Ruben Neves is ready to move to Manchester United and become the Red Devils\u2019 first January signing under interim manager Michael Carrick, according to a report, while Manchester City have now taken a sign to Pablo Barrios, who, TEAMtalk understands, is on INEOS\u2019 radar.<\/p>\n
Man Utd<\/a> remain keen on signing a top-class midfielder in 2026, despite the departure of Ruben Amorim. While Man Utd interim manager Michael Carrick is confident of getting the team to the Premier League top four<\/a> with the players at his disposal, sources have told TEAMtalk that the club\u2019s co-owners, INEOS, are open-minded about bringing in new players in the middle of the season.<\/p>\n Ruben Neves wants to join Man Utd<\/p>\n Our transfer insider, Graeme Bailey, reported on December 17 that Man Utd are keen on Ruben Neves<\/a>, who is out of contract at Al-Hilal at the end of the season.<\/p>\n Sources told us at the time that Man Utd had already spoken to intermediaries regarding a move for Neves<\/a>.<\/p>\n There has been speculation this week that Man Utd have made a bid for Neves<\/a>, which Al-Hilal are said to be considering.<\/p>\n It has now emerged that Neves himself is ready to make the move to Man Utd and become the first signing for the Red Devils this month.<\/p>\n According to Football Insider<\/a>, Neves \u2018is keen to make the move to Man United and would welcome the opportunity to discuss terms if a deal could be agreed\u2019.<\/p>\n Journalist Pete O\u2019Rourke, who wrote the report, added on the\u00a0Transfer Insider podcast: \u201cYeah, obviously Ruben Neves is a top midfielder. He\u2019s done well out in the Saudi Pro League with Al Hilal.<\/p>\n \u201cThey don\u2019t really want to lose him, but he is coming to the end of his contract in June and nothing has been agreed as yet, so that has opened to door for a return to Europe.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure if the opportunity did come along, Ruben Neves would be interested in a move to Man United.<\/p>\n He would be a good fit for United, he can play in that defensive midfield role, but I don\u2019t think the Saudi Pro League club are that open to letting him leave.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a difficult deal to do, Al Hilal want a decent fee of around \u00a320million for him, and then obviously you\u2019ve got his wages as well.\u201d<\/p>\n Want more breaking transfer lines from original sources? Add TEAMtalk\u00a0as a preferred source on Google\u00a0<\/a>to your favourites list for news you can trust.<\/p>\n Man Utd face Man City battle for Pablo Barrios<\/p>\n Man Utd have also shown interest in Atletico Madrid midfielder Pablo Barrios.<\/p>\n Our transfer insider, Dean Jones, reported on December 24, 2025, that Man Utd stumbled upon Barrios while watching Conor Gallagher for Atletico<\/a>.<\/p>\n Gallagher, a former Chelsea star, has since joined Tottenham Hotspur, but Barrios remains at Atletico and is a player who has been \u201cspoken about glowingly at a few clubs, and Man Utd are one of them\u201d, according to Jones.<\/p>\n It has now emerged in the Spanish media that Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City<\/a> are also keen on Barrios, who has a release clause of \u20ac120million (\u00a3104.6m, $140.8m) in his contract at the Spanish club.<\/p>\n According to Fichajes<\/a>, which is admittedly a highly speculative source, both Man City and PSG see Barrios \u2018as an ideal fit for modern football: dynamic, tactically disciplined, and capable of sustaining high-intensity matches\u2019.<\/p>\n Atletico, though, do not want to sell the 22-year-old Spain international midfielder.<\/p>\n Get the inside story first by joining our\u00a0TEAMtalk Facebook channel<\/a>\u00a0to receive the latest breaking and exclusive news straight into your Messenger inbox.<\/p>\n Man Utd target Roberto De Zerbi addresses speculation<\/p>\n Our transfer correspondent, Fraser Fletcher, has reported that Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi is one of the top candidates for the Man Utd managerial job<\/a>.<\/p>\n Carrick has been appointed the interim manager for the rest of the season, and while the Englishman is in contention, Man Utd are casting the net wide.<\/p>\n