Manchester United are reportedly keen on signing Benfica midfielder Joao Neves, but the Portuguese giants will not sell him before 2025.
A report from Portuguese publication O Jogo via Sport Witness claims that Benfica do not want to sell Joao Neves before 2025. The Portuguese wonderkid is a target for Manchester United, who now face a roadblock in his pursuit.
The midfielder has a release clause of €120 million in his contract, and the Red Devils will have to pay a premium in order to secure his services. If the Premier League giants want to sign him for a reasonable price, they will have to wait until the end of next season.
It will be interesting to see how the situation develops over the next few months. Neves is highly rated in European football, and he is expected to develop into a world-class player with coaching and experience.
The teenage whizkid has replaced former Benfica midfielder Enzo Fernandez, who completed a big-money move to Chelsea at the start of the year. The 19-year-old has made a seamless transition into a senior player for Benfica. So, it is no surprise that the top clubs are circling around him.
Manchester United could certainly use a quality central midfielder, and it remains to be seen whether they decide to break the bank for the 19-year-old Benfica player. The Red Devils have tried to sign players like Frenkie de Jong in the past. So, it is evident that Erik ten Hag needs a midfield controller who can help them dominate proceedings in the middle of the park.
Neves certainly fits the profile and could prove to be a useful long-term acquisition. Although the Red Devils will have to pay a substantial amount of money for him now, the midfielder has the ability to justify the investment in the long run. But Benfica are reluctant to part ways with him before 2025.
Erik ten Hag has done well to nurture talented young players during his time at Ajax, and he could help the 19-year-old fulfil his tremendous potential at Manchester United if the transfer goes through. The move could look like a bargain in the long run. But Manchester United may have to bide their time.