Premier League Giants Show Strong Interest in Portuguese Wonderkid
Manchester United is reportedly the club most keen on signing Benfica’s young talent, Joao Neves, this summer, according to reports from Portugal. The 19-year-old midfielder had an impressive season at Benfica, earning him a spot in Portugal’s squad for Euro 2024.
Neves’ standout performances have caught the attention of several Premier League clubs, with Arsenal, Manchester City, and Manchester United all expressing interest. On Tuesday, Neves played a full match in Portugal’s 4-2 friendly win over Finland, further boosting his profile.
Benfica, however, is reluctant to let go of their star for less than his €120 million (£102 million) release clause. Manchester United has reportedly made a bid of £51 million, which was rejected by Benfica. The Portuguese club is holding out for a fee closer to €100 million.
Despite the high asking price, Manchester United remains one of the most interested clubs. Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain, and Bayern Munich are also reportedly in the mix. With Benfica needing to sell players this summer, the pressure to negotiate might soon get to them.
Adding to the transfer speculation, Neves has not agreed to a new contract with Benfica. The proposed salary was significantly lower than that of the highest-paid players in the squad, and negotiations seem unlikely to reopen after Neves’ rejection.
Benfica’s President, Rui Costa, has confirmed the need to sell players this summer, which might soften their stance on Neves. The club had hoped to cash in on centre-back Antonio Silva, but his market value hasn’t met their expectations, putting more pressure on Neves’ situation.
Meanwhile, Manchester City appears to be quietly monitoring the situation. City’s star, and Neves’ Portuguese teammate, Bernardo Silva, has even encouraged Neves to join him at Manchester City, acknowledging the challenge of securing such a high-value player.
As the summer transfer window heats up, all eyes will be on Joao Neves and where he might land next season.
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