Manchester United are reportedly in contact with Benfica over the signing of Colombian midfielder Richard Rios, with the Portuguese club understood to be willing to accept a fee in the region of €45 million for the 25-year-old.

The report, citing Caught Offside, indicates that United scouts have attended matches to watch Rios in person, and the positive assessments received have been a key factor in the club initiating contact with Benfica.

Competition heating up for Rios

Manchester United are not alone in their pursuit. Premier League rivals Fulham have also registered an interest in the Colombian, while Napoli are monitoring the situation from Serie A, adding further pressure on any club hoping to secure his signature at a competitive price.

Interested clubs are currently valuing Rios at approximately €30 million — a figure some way below Benfica's asking price of €45 million. How Rios performs at the 2026 FIFA World Cup could ultimately influence the final transfer fee, pushing the valuation higher or lower depending on his tournament showings.

United's midfield rebuild

The need for midfield reinforcement at Old Trafford is clear. Manager Michael Carrick has overseen an encouraging start to his tenure — the joint-best return after nine Premier League games of any manager in the competition's history — but two losses and a draw in United's last five league matches have exposed vulnerability in the middle of the park.

Concerns deepen with the anticipated departure of Casemiro this summer, leaving a significant void in the engine room that the club will need to address with real quality.

United have been linked with several midfield targets during this window, though interest in a number of those names is reportedly cooling or being matched by rival clubs. One option the club are said to strongly favour is Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson, who has been identified as a potential marquee midfield addition, with Rios potentially serving as a complementary signing to bolster squad depth.

Whether Rios represents a genuine priority or merely a contingency option remains unclear, but the fact that United have made direct contact with Benfica signals a serious level of intent. Carrick's side return to Premier League action on Monday, hosting eighth-placed Brentford at Old Trafford.