Manchester United are seriously considering making a summer move for top Benfica talent Joao Neves, with a January bid ruled out.
According to Florian Plettenberg, Manchester United are considering a big move for Benfica star Joao Neves next summer. The Journalist ruled out a bid in the winter window, as the Red Devils might put in a concerted effort to sign the 19-year-old midfielder after the season ends.
There are only a few clubs with the capacity of Benfica when it comes to producing and exporting top talent. The Portuguese side have come to the fore more recently than ever in their quest to develop some notable players and sell them on for profit.
While the club always has this model to work towards. The recent sales of Enzo Fernandez to Chelsea and Goncalo Ramos to PSG show they have the talents and the negotiation skills to get the best deals.
There are some more players like Antonio Silva developing in the background, but there’s another that has caught the eye. Benfica’s 19-year-old midfielder, Joao Neves, has become an overnight sensation.
❗️João #Neves is a potential transfer target for ManUtd! Not in winter, but for summer – confirmed ✔️
➡️ The 19 y/o midfielder is on the list of #MUFC for a long time
➡️ More top clubs are monitoring the top talent from @SLBenfica! @SkySportDE 🇵🇹 pic.twitter.com/1D5aaLhfWC— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) October 17, 2023
With his growing stature, there are some of the top-rated teams already setting sights on a future move. Manchester United and Manchester City are reportedly interested. So are Barcelona and Juventus, with everyone keeping constant tabs.
Amid a report pointing to the interest of Manchester United, it revealed that Benfica did not even entertain an approach from Juventus. In turn, they have since extended Neves’ contract, which now carries a termination clause of €120 million.
As per Florian Plettenberg, Manchester United are considering a serious approach to sign the 19-year-old midfielder next summer. The Sky Sports reporter ruled out a January bid, stating the Red Devils have added Neves to their shortlist.
However, with Benfica not interested in selling until 2025, at the very least, interested clubs must pay his full release clause to sign him. There are hardly any cases of players from Portuguese clubs saying not to make a big move. Meanwhile, Neves seems happy with his progress and might listen to the club’s plan for his future.
Irrespective of whether he moves to Manchester United or somewhere else next summer, the 19-year-old midfielder has a massive future ahead. With a big move imminent, Benfica will hope to maximise his potential in the next two years and sell him for the best market value possible.
