Under Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s new leadership, Manchester United’s plans for the summer transfer window will start to take shape.

Earlier this year, Ineos Group and Ratcliffe finalised a 25% buyout of United, assuming management of the football operations at Old Trafford. There were no new signings in January, but when the window opens at the end of the season, things should be very different.

Potential new additions who could join Erik ten Hag’s side are already being linked to United. The Reds’ recruitment squad is supposedly looking to add a new midfield player, while they are also reportedly interested in a striker.

According to reports, a number of teams are interested in signing Joao Neves, a midfielder for Benfica, including United. The midfielder initially enrolled in the Primeira Liga team’s academy and worked his way up through the ranks to become an important member of the starting lineup.

Fabrizio Romano claims that Neves is a possible summer transfer target for the Reds as they evaluate their alternatives for the window of transfers. It has been reported, nevertheless, that Neves is also a target for Manchester City and other unidentified Premier League teams.

According to Romano, Neves’s contract contains a release clause worth over £100 million, and Benfica would only permit the midfield player to depart this summer if they activated it. Enzo Fernandez was transferred by the Portuguese team to Chelsea in January of last year, following the Stamford Bridge team’s payment of the £106.8 million release clause.

“In terms of possible midfield signings coming in for United, the race remains open for Benfica wonderkid Joao Neves, who has been scouted by the Red Devils, and also by Manchester City,” Romano stated.

“Benfica will insist on the release clause of €120 million (£103 million) being triggered, so it’s not an easy deal, but the interest from Premier League clubs is there in terms of scouting.”

Benfica issued an official statement in response to rumours that United might be in the driver’s seat to sign Neves in January after the team permitted Alvaro Fernandez to join the Portuguese team on loan with a buyout option: “Sport Lisboa e Benfica denies the existence of any right of preference over its player Joao Neves.”

“Sport Lisboa e Benfica did not, and does not, plan to, enter into negotiations over this player with Manchester United or any other team. Any information indicating otherwise is untrue.”