“Manchester United in the race for Richard Rios at 45 million.”

Manchester United is preparing to enter a fierce battle in this summer’s transfer market, with an emerging talent valued at an impressive €45 million stirring up the waters of the Premier League. According to sources close to the process, Colombian midfielder Richard Rios, currently at Benfica, is about to leave the Portuguese club in a transfer that promises to shake up the market.

The 25-year-old Colombian international, who has been impressing with his quality and maturity on the pitch, is seen as a key asset for several European clubs, with offers in the region of €45 million being considered by Benfica. However, some believe that the price could rise after the World Cup, should Rios shine in the tournament taking place in North America, which could complicate negotiations even further.

For now, the situation is somewhat confusing: while some clubs estimate the player’s value at around €30 million, Manchester United, Fulham, and Napoli are among the most interested in the midfielder. Fulham is said to have already made concrete contacts, while Napoli is considering making a formal offer following internal discussions.

Although it is unclear whether the Red Devils have made Rios their top priority, sources confirm that several club scouts have already watched him in action, with extremely positive reports fueling expectations at Old Trafford. Manchester United is undergoing a midfield restructuring, having been linked to prominent names such as Elliot Anderson, Sandro Tonali, and Carlos Baleba, which makes Rios’s future even more uncertain.

A source revealed that the English club’s plan may involve a “high-impact contract” by signing a top player like Anderson, complemented by a more affordable acquisition to strengthen the squad. In this context, Rios fits perfectly, as long as Benfica does not raise the price too much in the coming weeks.

This scenario makes it clear that clubs wishing to secure the Colombian midfielder must act quickly, as a notable performance at the World Cup could exponentially inflate his value. Benfica, for its part, holds all the cards to negotiate a lucrative sale but will have to decide whether to wait for the post-World Cup period to try to maximize the return.

Richard Rios, whose technique and game vision have been widely praised, is at the center of one of the hottest dossiers of this transfer window, and the coming months promise to be decisive for the future of this player who could be the key to success for Manchester United or for some European rival.

Stay tuned for updates on this dossier that promises to shake up the transfer market and redefine the battle for midfield in the Premier League and beyond.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.