Manchester United target Rúben Neves and Conor Gallagher as January signings

Antoine Semenyo thought to favour move to Liverpool.

TRANSFER NEWS: Ruben Neves  is out of contract with Al Hilal this summer. Picture: Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images

Manchester United are monitoring Al-Hilal’s Rúben Neves and Atlético Madrid’s Conor Gallagher as potential January signings to strengthen Ruben Amorim’s squad. Bournemouth’s Tyler Adams is also of interest but any deal for the American is not likely until the close season.

United are also vying with Liverpool and Manchester City to sign Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth in early January but the forward is thought to favour joining Liverpool, with City his second choice, so Amorim faces a fight to convince him.

Amorim’s preference is to sign players with Premier League experience, which Neves and Gallagher, as well as the Bournemouth pair, have. He also retains interest in the Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba as a summer target. Last summer United’s buys included Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford and Matheus Cunha from Wolves.

Neves, who is 28 and out of contract at the end of the season, would cost about £20million (€22.8m) and played in the top flight for Wolves for five years until 2023, and is a seasoned international, with 63 Portugal caps. Neves’s £350,000 (€399, 621) a-week salary may be a stumbling block and he could sign a fresh deal at the Saudi Arabian club.

Gallagher joined Atlético from Chelsea on a five-year deal in 2024. He is valued at about €40m-€50m (£35m-£44m) by the Spanish club, whose preference is a sale, whereas United would rather sign him on loan. The 25-year-old has mostly been a substitute this season and recently spoke of a desire to force a way back into Thomas Tuchel’s England squad.

Adams is also of interest but the 26-year-old, who joined Bournemouth in 2023 and has 52 United States caps, has been ruled out for at least two months with a knee injury sustained in Monday’s 4-4 draw at Old Trafford. Any move for him is not expected to occur until the summer.

Semenyo, who scored in Monday’s game, has a release clause understood to be slightly less than £65m, with the sum including loyalty money and agent payments, and it has to be triggered early next month. Tottenham are also interested but appear to have a slim chance of landing the former Bristol City player.

The Liverpool head coach, Arne Slot, is intent on acquiring Semenyo as the successor to Mohamed Salah, but City have also made contact with the player and his representatives. Although Pep Guardiola is contracted until June 2027, there is uncertainty regarding his future. The City manager may consider departing this summer but this should not affect any decision Semenyo makes.

Amorim wants Semenyo to strengthen his options at wingback and forward. Before United’s draw with Bournemouth Amorim described the Ghana international as a “special” footballer. Amorim wants him to operate primarily as a left wing-back or No 10. At left wing-back, Patrick Dorgu, Amorim’s first signing last January, has failed to impress and his other option, Diogo Dalot, is primarily a right-back.

Amorim has lost the forwards Amad Diallo and Mbeumo to, respectively, Côte d’Ivoire and Cameroon, who are at the Africa Cup of Nations. Ghana have not qualified so Semenyo is free to move next month.

Guardian