Joao Neves has continued to impress in Portugal for his native Benfica but is likely to cost Manchester United in the region of £86million (€100m), as per his release clause.
An ideal partner for Kobbie Mainoo in midfield, the fellow teenager has played a whopping 54 times in all competitions for Roger Schmidt's side this season. Likely to be included in Portugal's squad for the upcoming European Championships, ESPN have confirmed that INEOS are keeping tabs on his progress, with a summer move not out of the question.
Provided Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sir Dave Brailsford can ensure high earners at the top exit later this year, a move could still be on the cards, but one journalist believes it will be a big ask for Man Utd to do so with Euro 2024 on the horizon.
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Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag alongside Sir Jim Ratcliffe. (Image credit: Getty Images)
"If there is one player that Benfica won’t negotiate for less than the release clause is Joao Neves," began Bruno Andrade of Mais Futebol recently.
"Other players like Antonio Silva, Anatoliy Trubin, Benfica believe they can negotiate below their release clause but Joao Neves is different.
"He either leaves the club if his release clause is met or he stays. The board knows that his involvement in the Euro 2024, will increase their chances of getting the full asking price for him so it's justified.
Benfica star Joao Neves is wanted at Old Trafford (Image credit: Getty Images)
"United’s possible desperation [to sign promising talents] and the way in which Benfica profits well from selling their main academy players, means nothing is impossible along with Jorge Mendes’ involvement.
"I always think that it’s unlikely for a player in Portuguese football to leave for the value of their release clause but there are recent cases that prove this. And when you put together a club like United, a good negotiator like Jorge Mendes and Benfica’s success in selling young players, it wouldn’t surprise me to see a club come in and pay his €100m release clause."
Matthew is a Freelance Journalist and has racked up bylines for Manchester United, Manchester Evening News, GOAL and SPORTbible to name a few. A long-term sufferer of Scunthorpe United, he currently resides in the north-west after escaping the smog of North Lincolnshire.
