Manchester United are waiting to make their move in the transfer market and the latest 'target' to emerge on their radar has already been labelled as one the world's best by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola.
After missing out on a holding midfielder last summer, key figures in the Old Trafford boardroom are set to prioritise that position when the window re-opens. As part of their impending rebuild under new boss Erik ten Hag, United also want to sign a new centre back and versatile attacking option.
However, it is their engine room which is in the most need of maintenance and ambitions to strengthen have been exacerbated by the confirmed departures of Nemanja Matic, Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard and Juan Mata. It means United might well be forced into more than one signing in midfield, even with James Garner and Donny van de Beek returning from loan.
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Declan Rice, Kalvin Phillips and Frenkie de Jong have all been earmarked as concrete targets at various points in the run-up to the market reopening, though all deals appear difficult to pull off. A succession of names on the rumour mill has, also, been joined by Matheus Nunes from Sporting CP. He has caught the eye in a big way this season.
Portuguese outlet Correio da Manha have linked United with a €50million move for his services amid interest from other potential suitors in Europe. As it turns out, the player has already impressed Guardiola - who shared rather glowing praise for the Brazilian-born Portugal international when they locked horns in the past campaign.
City met Nunes and Sporting on their way to the Champions League semi-finals. The 23-year-old was powerless to stop City from running riot during a 5-0 victory in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, but attacking brilliance from Kevin de Bruyne and co was not enough to detract from Nunes' own performance.
Speaking after that last-16 contest in February, Guardiola said: "The difference between both teams, believe me, is not five goals. But up front we were so clinical and we defended well. Matheus Nunes is one of the best players in world football. They have a good team, so it's an unexpected result, but I'm very pleased."
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