Man United set sights on £17m 'next James Rodriguez' but face Chelsea and Real Madrid blow

Manchester United have reportedly set their sights on Palmeiras midfielder Richard Rios as a potential summer signing, according to Brazilian media.

The Red Devils are in the hunt for a new midfielder after spending a combined £94million on striker Joshua Zirkzee and defender Leny Yoro. They have Paris Saint-Germain's Manuel Ugarte in their crosshairs, but with a hefty £59m price tag, they're exploring other options.

United have also been scouting Benfica's 19-year-old prodigy Joao Neves, who could potentially be signed for less than his £101m release clause. However, their search has extended far and wide, with Rios catching their eye following his standout performances at the Copa America.

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Rios was instrumental in helping Colombia reach the final of South America's top competition, where they were narrowly defeated by Argentina. The 24-year-old shone in their 5-0 victory over Panama, forming a formidable partnership with James Rodriguez in Nestor Lorenzo's midfield.

According to Goal Brazil, United have reached out to Palmeiras regarding Rios' availability, with AC Milan also showing interest. Erik ten Hag's team are said to be prepared to table a £17m bid for Rios, although this is unlikely to sway Palmeiras into parting ways with him, reports the Mirror.

This is largely due to the fact that Palmeiras are not under any financial pressure to sell, having already cashed in on some of their other stars. They've sold Endrick to Real Madrid for a fee that could rise to €72m (£60m) and have also struck deals with Chelsea