How Man Utd are laying foundations for mega Joao Neves transfer

Suraj Radia

• Updated: 16 Jan 2024 16:02 GMT
• 4 min read

Manchester United’s recent transfer business could hint towards the foundations being set to move for Joao Neves, with reports that Erik ten Hag’s side will look to move early in the summer in an attempt to sign the Benfica wonderkid.

Neves is said to be United’s top target in midfield, having broken into the Benfica team after the sale of Enzo Fernandez a year ago, with the 19-year-old rapidly progressing into an integral star for club and country.

The teenager still has more than four years remaining on his contract but his deal is believed to contain a release clause worth €120 million – a figure which Benfica have no intention of receiving anything less than.

Such an outlay would make Neves among the most expensive signings in English football history if he was to make the switch to United and, while he is seen as a ‘priority investment’ by the new hierarchy at Old Trafford, the club may be reluctant to make such a huge outlay given the desire to strengthen in multiple areas of the squad.

However, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who recently invested in United and is expected to front the club’s footballing operations, will hope that good relations can be built with Benfica over the coming months, starting with the transfer of Alvaro Fernandez, who is set to complete a move to the Portuguese giants.

Fernandez has spent the first half of this season on loan at Granada from United but his spell in Spain has been cut short having only made five starts and the 20-year-old will now move to Benfica on loan with an option to buy.

United hoping to benefit in Neves negotiations with Benfica good will

Although Fernandez’s departure perhaps may feel inconsequential to United’s pursuit of Neves, a favourable loan spell could help convince Benfica to be open to negotiations over a sale for their midfielder instead of pointing to the release clause.

United have had previous experience dealing with Benfica, having signed Victor Lindelof from them in 2017 for an initial fee of €35m, while Darwin Nunez was in talks with the Premier League side prior to his move to Liverpool in 2022.

The likelihood of United paying the €130m release clause of Neves is slim, particularly with the general expectation of such deals being conducted in one bulk payment, and Benfica have rarely shown any desire to negotiate for their prized possessions in recent years.

However, with United making their intentions clear over Neves and seemingly desperate to strike a deal, they could beat their rivals to his signing by maintaining good relationships with Benfica with the Fernandez deal and potentially demonstrating the value of their young talent to tempt the Portuguese side into a negotiating a lower price.