I agree. I think you'll struggle to find a profile like his next window that wouldn't need the touted "release clause" type bid. This is an opportunity to get a serious talent, at a palatable price. Also, if we're all in agreement it will be a couple of years before we're challenging for titles, why not prepare our midfield for that?
I think there’s a more indifference to a so-called elite talent under the assumption another will come along next summer, anyway. That may be so, it may also fail to be the case. The problem is, will we have as clear an opportunity to land said talent? Will other big clubs be seeking to upgrade or replace what they have?
Neves is a good opportunity to take on an elite talent without much interference. His profile and skillset suits as well as the game he has. Effortless one and two touch football, aggressive, tenacious, indefatigable, able ball carrier, press resistant, solid passer… it’s a profile we’ve needed for years, so it’s not the run of the mill passover.
And as you’ve said, the age profile also suits as by the time we’re ready to challenge, he’s what? 22, 23?
Pah!
People used to say the same about Sancho and Pogba too.
Does that mean we should stop pursuing elite talent? We’ve just purchased Yoro for the same reason, would you say that’s a bad thing?
Watching him every week! I'm Portuguese and a Benfiquista, aha!
So I don't mean only in terms of his physical development but that along with his game management and experience. Neves has about 1.5 seasons of first team football under his belt, although that's more than Mainoo, it's in a much more inferior league. Imo he still needs more time to develop and United cannot afford to have both Mainoo and Neves in this development stage. If Ugarte (or a more experienced destroyer of starting quality) was bought along with Neves, I would be all in for it.
I agree with your point that the midfield can't really be fixed in one window, and Neves is by far the better player (in potential at least), however, I think a player like Ugarte fixes more than Neves at this stage and that's what United should be aiming for.
And talking about the price, from what I've read so far at least it looks like 80m is what it's going to be settled at, some rumors of Renato going the other way but I don't believe that. There's no way he's going for anything below that. Don't see how United can fork out that much money given how a CB, Full Back and 2 midfielders are still required for the team.
Our squad is of a poor age profile across the board, but you have to hope the likes of Martinez and Bruno can be leading lights in terms of guidance and instruction. I would have added Casemiro to that mix too, normally.
Ugarte doesn’t know the PL, nor do any of the players we’ve been linked to in midfield. A period of adjustment could be on the cards for any of them, and in that sense, it might actually be the younger ones who adapt quicker given their footballing brain and mindset is more malleable and inviting of change and new ideas (which is why the likes of LVG loves working with youngsters as they are more likely to take on board ideas without objecting). I would also say the reason why kids are labelled prodigious is because their ability to process and adapt is unbelievable (see Mainoo coming straight into adult football and looking like he was an experienced pro) so I wouldn’t worry about him in that regard, personally.
But yeah, price as a package makes this a pipe dream unfortunately. I don’t think we will go back in for him, especially with a state club as a rival for the signature.
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