Jose Mourinho has previously waxed lyrical about Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves, amid reports linking him with a move to Manchester United.
United are looking to strengthen their midfield options during this month's transfer window and Neves is being touted as an option, with various reports in the national media claiming that United are interested in his services.
Since arriving in England in 2017, the Portugal international has gone from strength-to-strength, cementing himself as one of the best box-to-box midfielders in the Premier League, with his ability to put a tackle in and score from distance just two key features to his game.
During Wolves' 1-0 win over United at Old Trafford on Monday, which condemned interim manager Ralf Rangnick to his first defeat in charge, Neves produced an excellent performance in the centre of midfield alongside fellow countryman Joao Moutinho, who netted the winner, to provide further evidence as to why United are so desperate to strengthen that area of the squad.
In Neves, United, should they pursue a move for him this month, would be landing a midfielder who suits Rangnick's style of play, with the Portuguese ace having been praised in the past for his pressing game by Mourinho.
The former United boss hailed Neves, as well as Moutinho, following a 1-1 draw between the Reds and Wolves back in 2018, in which Moutinho, once again, had a decisive say on proceedings, scoring Wolves' equaliser shortly after half time.
"It's a situation the players knew perfectly," Mourinho said, speaking back in September 2018. "That they press in midfield, these two Portuguese boys, they are both the kind of player that likes to bite, that likes to short distance, to press, they don't give long time for you to have the ball, to turn, one touch, two touches, you don't have much of that.
"So you concede in a situation that is even harder to accept but that is one goal that you concede and you have 90 minutes to show a different attitude and we have to do better."
Given that Mourinho was full of praise for Neves just over a month into his career as a Premier League player, the Portuguese international has come on in leaps and bounds since then, often attracting praise from pundits, opposing managers and numerous supporters.
His performance at Old Trafford on Monday was one of great quality and highlighted just how much United could do with a player of his mould.
We've teamed up with LiveScore to invite fans to nominate their favourite results - the games which were much more than a score. Nominate the match that mattered to you here .
