Man Utd transfers: Ratcliffe meets Mendes as wonderkid discussed

Stuart Telford

• Updated: 28 Apr 2024 17:56 BST
• 3 min read

New Manchester United minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has reportedly met with Portuguese super-agent Jorge Mendes as he plots a busy summer transfer window at Old Trafford.

Ratcliffe paid £1.3 billion to the Glazer family for a 27.7 per cent stake in the Red Devils in December - one that, crucially, gave him 'sporting control' at the club.

This summer will be the first full transfer window with the INEOS chief's feet under his desk, and he has already instructed scouts to find the next Kylian Mbappe from the lower leagues rather than spend silly money on the finished article.

READ MORE: Latest Man Utd transfer rumours

And now Ratcliffe is casting his net further afield, with Mendes helping him in the Portuguese and wider European markets.

— Football Transfers (@Transfersdotcom) December 28, 2023

Neves and Leao emerge as top targets

"Manchester United are tapping into the contacts book of super-agent Jorge Mendes," report The Mirror. "Ratcliffe has met Mendes, who represents a host of top players including Cristiano Ronaldo… and former United boss Jose Mourinho, as he continues to overhaul the Old Trafford scouting network."

And a pair of players have emerged as top targets: Joao Neves and Rafael Leao, of Benfica and AC Milan respectively.

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"Joao Neves - a Mendes player - is on the Old Trafford wish list… The 19-year-old, already a Portugal international, is seen as fitting the Ratcliffe template, a young improving player hungry to make an impact.

"United have also been linked with another Mendes client, AC Milan forward Rafael Leao, but with an asking price of around £100 million his arrival is less likely than that of Neves."

United will still be able to spend big on the right player, and Leao, a right-footed left winger, might put some welcome pressure on the misfiring Marcus Rashford. Leao has 26 direct goal-involvements for Milan this season, compared to Rashford's 13 for United.