Manchester United have made an enquiry for Benfica midfielder Richard Rios but could face competition from another English club, a report said.
It is Fulham that is also interested in Rios, who is considered a cheap alternative to the likes of Adam Wharton, Sandro Tonali, and Carlos Baleba by United, who are almost certain to sign multiple midfielders when the summer transfer window opens. Both Premier League clubs are convinced that Benfica will sell the player for a sum around £39 million (€45 million, $53 million), the report said.
The Colombian Rios joined the Portuguese team last year from Brazil's Palmeiras and has made 24 appearances this season so far. His stay at Benfica is almost certain to be short-lived, claimed CaughtOffside, who reported that the 25-year-old is “highly unlikely to stay” for another season.
Every United scout who has seen Rios in action has been happy, although it is unclear if he is being listed alongside Baleba, Wharton, and others as a priority target.
Manchester United's transfer plans decoded?
According to the report, United is likely to make one high-profile signing as a statement of intent and then look for a more affordable second signing, which could well be Rios.
"It’s not yet entirely clear how United will prioritise these various names, who have also been linked with other big clubs, so there are a lot of moving parts here... Shoring up their squad depth with one more player who’d likely be a bit cheaper is possible. So in that sense, Rios fits the bill, as long as his asking price doesn’t shoot up too much in the weeks ahead," the CaughtOffside report read.
Why Richard Rios?
Capable of combining defensive duties, technical skill, and ball progression, Rios is an all-action central midfielder. His work rate without the ball is incredible, and he is equally hard to dispossess.
Standing at 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in), Ríos uses his frame effectively to win duels. He is equally useful in attacks, proven by his high volume of touches (1,455 in the league) and a high frequency of through-balls.