Manchester United preparing stunning offer for Portuguese wonderkid dubbed 'the next Bruno Fernandes': report

 Manager Erik ten Hag of Manchester United arrives ahead of the Premier League match between Manchester United and Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford on August 26, 2023 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Manchester United are preparing to make an offer for another new player, who has drawn comparisons with their current club captain Bruno Fernandes.

Since joining Manchester United in January 2020, Bruno Fernandes has been one of the club's standout players and ever-present stars in the team. Erik ten Hag has certainly been impressed since taking over, too, naming the 28-year-old the club captain in the summer. 

Such has been Bruno's impact at the club, that the Red Devils hierarchy have already started sounding out his successor - and it seems they've found the perfect player a decade younger than the current incumbent. 

Manchester United player Bruno Fernandes celebrates after scoring the third United goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford on August 26, 2023 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

United are already on the hunt for Bruno's successor (Image credit: Getty Images)

According to The Sun, Manchester United have held talks with Benfica over the signing of Joao Neves, who has been compared to his compatriot Bruno Fernandes. 

Any potential deal for the 18-year-old will likely have to wait, though, with Benfica reluctant to sell until at least next summer, while Manchester United have financial fair play considerations to make in the current window, too. 

The report also suggests that Chelsea are interested in Neves, but Benfica are unwilling to engage in negotiations with the Blues following the saga surrounding Enzo Fernandez last January.

Manchester United target Joao Neves of SL Benfica in action during the Liga Portugal Betclic match between SL Benfica and CF Estrela da Amadora at Estadio da Luz on August 19, 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)

Joao Neves is contracted to Benfica for five more years (Image credit: Getty Images)

A central midfielder who prefers playing slightly deeper than Bruno Fernandes, Joao Neves first broke into the Benfica first-team last season, while just 17-years-old. He has impressed since his debut, starting two of the Portuguese side's opening three Liga Portugal games this term. 

Despite standing at just 5ft 9in tall, Neves has previously stated that he uses his intelligence to overcome more physically imposing players. 

Currently contracted to Benfica until June 2028, Transfermarkt values Neves at £8m.

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More Manchester United stories 

Manchester United transfer news is coming thick and fast as we enter the final days of the summer window.

Harry Maguire could be one of seven players on their way out of Old Trafford between now and deadline day. Meanwhile, a World Cup-winning star could be about to join United from another European heavyweight.

The Manchester United season preview looks at why the Red Devils can start to dream of winning the Premier League title again, while all other 91 clubs in the top four tiers of English football are looked at, too.

Ryan Dabbs
Staff writer

Ryan is a staff writer for FourFourTwo, joining the team full-time in October 2022. He first joined Future in December 2020, working across FourFourTwo, Golf Monthly, Rugby World and Advnture's websites, before eventually earning himself a position with FourFourTwo permanently. After graduating from Cardiff University with a degree in Journalism and Communications, Ryan earned a NCTJ qualification to further develop as a writer while a Trainee News Writer at Future.