Man Utd Linked With Porto Centre-Back Eder Militao as Transfer Policy Shifts Away From Big Names

Manchester United are being linked with Porto centre-back Eder Militao as the search for defensive reinforcements goes on. The emerging talent is seemingly more

Manchester United are being linked with Porto centre-back Eder Militao as the search for defensive reinforcements goes on.

The emerging talent is seemingly more of a fit for the club's adapting recruitment policy than the likes of Toby Alderweireld or Harry Maguire.

Rather than splash the cash on established or older stars, the club is believed to be increasingly looking for younger prospects that can be developed and serve United long-term.

That would be appear to be the logic behind the signings of Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof in recent summers, and seemingly motivating the rumoured interest in Fiorentina's Nikola Milenkovic and in Sampdoria's Joachim Andersen, aged 21 and 22 respectively.

Writing for the Daily Record, Duncan Castles explains that Militao has been 'identified' as someone who fits that 'preferred strategy' and has been added to the list of targets as a result.

20-year-old Militao only joined Porto from Sao Paulo in August in deal worth just €4m. But he has already established himself as a starter, playing 90 minutes in every Primeira Liga game since making his debut in early September.

The youngster has also been an impressive ever present in the Champions League, with an unbeaten Porto currently topping their group and all but certain to reach the knockout stages.

Castles notes that while Porto, who must pass on 10% of any fee to Sao Paulo, would expect to turn a handsome profit from selling Militao, any deal would likely be much less than the alleged €100m that Ajax are seeking for 19-year-old Mattijs de Ligt, a rumoured target for Barcelona.

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United conducted positive business with Porto, Jose Mourinho's former club, as recently as the summer just gone when teenage full-back Diogo Dalot arrived at Old Trafford. The 19-year-old is also a prime example of this type of recruitment policy in action.