As Casemiro prepares to depart Old Trafford, the Red Devils eye a cut-price £26 million move for Benfica’s Colombian standout to spearhead a vital midfield rebuild.
With the season edging closer to an end, Manchester United have the chance to confirm third with just a point against Nottingham Forest.
This fixture will not only be United's last home game of the season, but also Casemiro's last at Old Trafford, with the Brazilian set to leave the club when his contract expires.
With the transfer window approaching, the rumour mill has already begun to whirl with different names being banded about as the Casemiro replacement.
Manuel Ugarte is also heavily linked with a move away, making the midfield rebuild an even bigger task, ideally requiring three players.
Benfica open to offers for Rios
Richard Rios has been a player consistently get linked to the club ever since his time in the Brazilian League with Palmeiras and a stellar 2024 Copa America with Colombia.
Now with Benfica, the midfielder has continued to impress in Portugal in his first year in Europe. However, the Colombian could be on his way out due to Benfica missing out on Champions League football and being forced to sell stars.
According to A Bola (via Sport Witness), the Portuguese side may be open to deals in the £26 million range, with United among the clubs keeping an eye on the player's situation. However, Napoli reportedly seems to be the most interested.
Any move for the player might be best suited to being done before the World Cup. The midfielder will be set to fly out to America with Colombia and could see his valuation rise depending on his performances.
Rios a perfect style of player...
It is unlikely that Michael Carrick's side is going to spend over 70 million on three midfielders when the club also want to invest in a winger and possibly another defender.
The club needs to scout Europe and find shrewd market opportunities to help bolster the squad.
Rios offers an interesting proposition as his price is low from the perspective of United. He is a player who has the potential to be a versatile option, capable of being an offensive eight or a more defensive option, depending on his partner.
While there are no guarantees about a player being able to adjust to the Premier League, with the club also competing in the Champions League, his recent experience of playing in the competition could be important, as the likes of Elliot Anderson, Carlos Baleba and Mateus Fernandes each have little to no Champions League experience.