Manchester United’s midfield rebuild has already begun, but Gary Neville believes there may be another opportunity staring his former club in the face. That opportunity is Felix Nmecha, the Borussia Dortmund and Germany midfielder who has caught the eye at the World Cup.
United have moved to strengthen Michael Carrick’s squad with a £35million deal for Atalanta midfielder Ederson. Yet with Casemiro gone and Manuel Ugarte expected to attract interest from AC Milan, the sense remains that another midfielder will be required before the summer window closes.
That is where Nmecha becomes intriguing. He is not the headline name Manchester United have most often been linked with, but he may be the more sensible one.
Nmecha Praise Carries Weight
Neville’s assessment was clear after watching Nmecha impress for Germany.
“The more he plays like he did the other night the more expensive he’ll get,” Neville told ITV.
“But at the moment, we hear Manchester United are being quoted £100 million for the West Ham boy Fernandes, so they’re going to have to be looking around this tournament and parts of Europe.
“He looked outstanding the other night, it looked like he had absolutely everything.”
Photo: IMAGO
That final phrase matters. In a market where midfielders are routinely priced above £80million, “absolutely everything” is not casual praise. It suggests a player who can carry, connect, run, press and arrive in dangerous areas.
Nmecha, now 25, began his career at Manchester City before moving to Germany. After three seasons at Borussia Dortmund, he looks more mature, more defined and more ready for a major Premier League challenge.
United Need Value And Timing
Manchester United’s reported interest in West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes has obvious logic. He is talented, Premier League proven and admired. Yet if the asking price remains around £100million, United have to be pragmatic.
Nmecha reportedly has a release clause worth €80million, around…
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