Gary Neville Suggests Manchester United to Recruit World Cup Star Felix Nmecha
June 23, 2026 · Global
Gary Neville rates Borussia Dortmund's Felix Nmecha as an attractive option for Manchester United in their midfield overhaul, especially after his impressive performances at the World Cup.
Manchester United's midfield overhaul has begun, but Gary Neville believes there is another opportunity in sight for his former club. That opportunity is Felix Nmecha, midfielder for Borussia Dortmund and the German national team who has stolen the spotlight at the World Cup. United have moved to strengthen Michael Carrick's squad with a £35m deal for Atalanta midfielder Ederson. However, with the departures of Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte expected to attract interest from AC Milan, it appears United still need an additional midfielder before the summer transfer window closes. This is where Nmecha gets interesting. He is not a big name often linked with Manchester United, but might be a more sensible choice. Neville's assessment was clear after seeing Nmecha impress for Germany. "The more he plays like he did that night, the more expensive he gets," Neville told ITV. "But at the moment, we heard Manchester United are being quoted £100m for West Ham's Fernandes, so they have to look around this tournament and parts of Europe. He looked incredible that night, it looked like he had everything." This last phrase is very important. In a market where the average midfielder is valued at over £80m, “everything” is no mean feat. It shows a player who can carry, link, run, press and arrive in dangerous areas. Nmecha, who is now 25 years old, started his career at Manchester City before moving to Germany. After three seasons at Borussia Dortmund, he looks more mature, more defined and better prepared to take on the big challenge of the Premier League. Manchester United's interest in West Ham's Mateus Fernandes has clear logic. He is talented, proven in the Premier League, and respected. However, if the asking price remains around £100m, United will have to be pragmatic. Nmecha reportedly has a release clause worth €80m, around £69.3m, which will become active next summer. For now, he may be available for around £52 million. This creates a narrow window for Manchester United to act before Dortmund gain more bargaining power. Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright also praised Nmecha's all-round qualities, saying: "When you look at him, he breaks lines, he gets into the box, he has Kimmich to fill in for him, "He can play as a No.8 or No.10, we can see he can finish, you can see why teams are interested in him. He has everything." That versatility is what United need. Carrick's midfield cannot be built solely on specialists. It needs players who can change the rhythm of the game. Duncan Ferguson added further praise, stating: "He's a very good player, a young player, he's got a very good right foot, he's athletic, he can move around the pitch. For Manchester United, Felix Nmecha represents a familiar transfer dilemma. Wait too long and prices will rise. Move early and there are risks. However, Neville's views feel based on something that United often lack, namely clarity. If Gary Neville is right, Nmecha has the profile, price and momentum to be one of the brightest midfield moves this summer.