Joao Neves has been linked with a move away from the Benfica, with Manchester United among his prospective suitors.
Manchester United, Barcelona and Liverpool are keen on signing Joao Neves. And a report by O Jogo via Sport Witness has claimed that the Red Devils are currently leading the race for his signature. Meanwhile, the youngster has a €120 million release clause in his Benfica contract.
The 19-year-old is highly coveted around Europe, and he has a big future ahead of him. He is expected to develop into a world-class player with the right coaching and experience.
Joao Neves has established himself as a key player for Benfica since the departure of Enzo Fernandez to Chelsea at the start of the year. The 19-year-old has a €120 million release clause in his contract, and Benfica are unlikely to let him leave for cheap. It will be interesting to see if Manchester United are prepared to trigger his release clause in the coming months.
There is no doubt that Manchester United need to bring in midfield reinforcements and someone like Neves could be a solid long-term acquisition for them. The 19-year-old has the potential to succeed at the highest level, and he could develop into one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.
Meanwhile, Barcelona are looking to put together a formidable squad for the future, and the 19-year-old would be an excellent addition to their midfield as well. However, they are going through financial difficulties. So, it is fair to assume that they will not be able to afford the €120 million asking price.
Finally, Liverpool need central midfield reinforcements as well. They are yet to replace the likes of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho adequately. They tried to sign Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia during the summer transfer window, but both players ended up joining Chelsea.
Neves could be a quality acquisition for Liverpool. Jurgen Klopp has a proven record when it comes to nurturing young players and he could help the 19-year-old fulfil his world-class potential. The Reds were prepared to pay a substantial amount of money for Caicedo. So, it is fair to assume that they have the finances to get the deal done for Neves as well.
It will be interesting to see if they can beat current front-runners Manchester United in the race to sign the player. Moving to the Premier League will be an exciting opportunity for Neves, and he will look to prove himself at the highest level.
