Manchester United are in the mix to sign Benfica youngster Joao Neves, but will have to pay a big fee.
It appears clear that Manchester United won’t be able to sign Benfica prodigy Joao Neves on the cheap.
Portuguese newspaper Record reports that a £50 million offer from Manchester United was rejected by Benfica, who will hold out for a more substantial amount.
Neves has a big release clause in his contract at double Manchester United’s offer, while the 19-year-old is under contract already to 2028.
Manchester United fans excited by possible partnership
Joao Neves has established himself as a regular in Benfica’s midfield this season, and also made his debut for Portugal, where he is heading to Euro 2024.
It is a similar rise to Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo, now a mainstay in the midfield at Old Trafford, and also heading to the European Championships with England.
United’s offer for Neves indicates the club plan to partner Mainoo and Neves together, an exciting prospect if the club can find the funds to pull it off.
Supporters have been discussing the potential future Manchester United midfield partnership, and many have high hopes.
One fan wrote on X: “Kobbie Mainoo and Joao Neves could be football’s answer to Modric and Kroos. Watch this space.”
Another added: “With Neves and Mainoo, United will finally have an established midfield duo for next 5 years at least.”
A third wrote simply: “Joao Neves and Mainoo linkup…I’ll be there.”
And another supporter wrote: “Burn whatever money you need to do to bring Neves over to United. This is a LONG-TERM pivot partner with Mainoo.”
Mainoo and Neves might lack one quality
A deal to bring in Joao Neves would be an investment, long-term, no matter the price, but is a partnership with Kobbie Mainoo really perfect?
One topic of discussion among fans about this possible deal is whether Neves and Mainoo together possess the physicality to dominate the Premier League?
One fan asked: “Does a midfield trio of Neves, Bruno and Mainoo work? Midfield lacks height l we would need to have a taller midfielder in that defensive role as well.
Another worries: “Signing a tall midfielder is very important. You can’t put Mainoo and Neves together, they simply don’t complement each other in any way, and moreover Neves isn’t a DM.”
While a third fan expressed concern: “Mainoo is not tall Bruno is not tall. A Mainoo Bruno Neves midfield is not at all ideal.”
Mainoo and Neves might be good enough to dominate possession in any case, while Mainoo showed his physicality against Erling Haaland in the FA Cup Final.
But if there is a doubt about this partnership, then United better be certain it’s a fix-able one. With Benfica demanding approximately £100 million for the Portuguese star, this transfer has to succeed if the club pay up.