Everton and Fulham are ready to battle giants Manchester United for the signature of Colombian midfield sensation Richard Rios.
Richard Rios’ future has become a big talking point as it seems Palmeiras have changed their stance on his future. The Brazilian outfit who were not ready to negotiate his departure in the summer are open to selling their star midfielder in the winter.
According to a report from CaughtOffside, Manchester United are one of the clubs that are interested in the Colombian international. But, the Red Devils will face major competition from rivals Fulham and Everton.
Rios came into the limelight on the back of his heroics in the 2024 Copa America. The 24-year-old was one of Colombia’s standout performers in a tournament where they made it to the finals. His impressive performances at South America’s biggest stage and his progress at Palmeiras had put him on Manchester United’s radar.
The Red Devils first expressed interest in his services during the summer. But, the Brazilian outfit where not ready to part ways with one of their key players midway through their season. It seems their stance has changed with the winter window closing in.
United, Everton & Fulham keen on Richard Rios
They are ready to negotiate his departure in January and as per the report, Rios who will still have four years left on his deal will be available for just €20 million. While United were keen during the summer, it will be interesting to see if the 24-year-old is still a priority for them mid-way through the 2024/25 season.
With summer signing Manuel Ugarte slow off the blocks and Casemiro not reaching the expected levels, Rios could be a great cost-effective signing. But, the Reds Devils will face serious competition from Fulham and Everton who were also linked with him during the summer.
The Toffees have had a poor start to the new season with just five points out of their first seven fixtures. Sean Dyche will surely look for reinforcements in the winter and Rios could be a great signing for them as he can feature as a number six as well as an eight.
While the Cottagers have done a decent job despite losing João Palhinha to Bayern Munich, they do seek more quality in the centre of the park and the Colombian could be a handy addition to their squad.
