Man Utd ready mighty £86m bid to 'convince' club into sale as Arsenal and Newcastle braced for striker battle

We begin Wednesday's Premier League transfer rumour round-up with an update on Manchester United's apparent interest in Benfica midfielder Joao Neves. The teenage star has been linked with the Red Devils on several occasions in the past, with the understanding being that Erik ten Hag's men are eager to bring in a marquee signing in the centre of the park this summer.

With that in mind, Portuguese outlet Record suggest that United have more than £85.7 million ready and waiting to 'convince' Neves' current employers into a sale. To that end, it is also stated that the midfielder is considered a 'priority' target for the Red Devils, who have been 'delighted' by his form in recent months.

The 3AM Verdict: We've spoken about Neves a lot in this column, and we no doubt will have to discuss him an awful lot more between now and the end of the summer. The teenager is likely to be in high demand over the coming months, and with good reason. Neves is a superlative talent, and if United can land him, what a coup it would be.

Arsenal eye Evanilson

Elsewhere, according to HITC, both Arsenal and Newcastle United had scouts in attendance to watch FC Porto striker Evanilson over the weekend. The Brazilian has hit 21 goals across all competitions this season, and is said to be attracting attention from a number of top continental sides.

The 24-year-old has been with his current employers since 2020, but was not the only player that the Gunners and the Magpies were said to be casting an eye over. It is also understood that Argentine midfielder Alan Varela is of interest to both clubs.

The 3AM Verdict: A good striker is worth their weight in gold, and Evanilson has certainly been banging in the goals over in Portugal of late. Whether he would actually be top of Arsenal or Newcastle's respective wish lists remains to be seen, but certainly, it is interesting that both clubs appear to be casting their nets far and wide.

Ryerson in demand

And finally, Borussia Dortmund full-back Julian Ryerson is attracting interest from both Brighton and Hove Albion and Aston Villa, according to a report from Sky Germany. The 26-year-old has established himself as a regular for the Bundesliga giants in recent times, and has hit four goals and an assist across 24 outings this term.

Indeed, it is claimed that his performances have been enough to catch the eye of both Albion and Villa, with the two Premier League sides having 'already expressed' their admiration of the player. For his part, Ryerson is said to be one of the lowest earners on Borussia Dortmund's books, and the understanding is that he could be in line for a new deal, although no talks are underway just yet.

The 3AM Verdict: Ryerson has been in good form for Dortmund this season, and would represent a versatile option capable of playing on either side of defence. It remains to be seen how much he would cost either Albion or Villa, but if a deal could be struck at the right price, then he could well prove to be a decent acquisition.