Premier League heavyweights Liverpool are reportedly willing to lodge an offer to sign Joao Neves, with SL Benfica demanding €120 million to sell him this summer.
According to a report by Correio da Manha, as relayed by Paisley Gates, Joao Neves is the subject of interest from Liverpool. The Reds are ready to launch the offensive to sign the SL Benfica prodigy in the summer transfer window, with the Portuguese club pointing to his release clause of €120 million to sell him. Meanwhile, Chelsea and Manchester United have already failed with their bids to secure his services.
The rapid rise of Joao Neves
Joao Neves has seen his stock skyrocket since breaking into the first-team squad at SL Benfica. The Portuguese giants are famous for being the breeding ground of promising talent, with recent years witnessing the rise of Antonio Silva, Enzo Fernandez, and Darwin Nunez.
As for Neves, the 19-year-old is a native of Tavira and has been with SL Benfica since 2016. He subsequently progressed through the ranks before breaking into the first-team squad in January 2023. Since then, Neves has come leaps and bounds, becoming a mainstay in the middle of the park for Roger Schmidt’s side.
The Portuguese international has turned out 75 times for SL Benfica, chipping in with four goals and three assists. In addition, Neves is growing in stature on the international stage and has featured for Portugal at UEFA Euro 2024. Meanwhile, the youngster’s progress has not gone unnoticed, alerting high-profile clubs like Chelsea, Manchester United, and Liverpool.
A man in demand
Chelsea and Manchester United have already failed with their bids to sign Joao Neves. Chelsea’s interest in the teenage prospect is surprising, considering they signed multiple midfielders last summer. However, Manchester United can do with a player like Neves, who can be Casemiro’s long-term replacement at Old Trafford.
As for Liverpool, they view Neves as their priority target for the summer transfer window. The Merseyside club signed a holding midfielder last summer, but Wataru Endo is on the wrong side of 30. The SL Benfica wonderkid is thus a viable target, with Liverpool ready to submit a bid to sign him in the summer transfer window.
Meanwhile, Benfica will point to Joao Neves’s release clause of €120 million to sell him in the summer transfer window. That might create an issue for Liverpool, Chelsea, and Manchester United, considering they have a limited budget this summer. So, it will be interesting to see where the 19-year-old Portuguese international plies his trade next season.
