Benfica determined to hold on to starlet linked to Manchester United

Benfica’s Joao Neves has been seen as one of Europe’s rising midfielders for the past two years, earning several links to a move to Manchester United.

It has long been suggested that Benfica wouldn’t part ways with the youngster unless they received a significant fee, as per Portuguese outlet Record, which is understandable considering we are led to believe Neves has a release clause worth €120 million.

The media jump on any transfer story possible these days and the Neves links are timely if you look at United’s need for younger midfield reinforcements this summer. Then you immediately question whether such a signing is possible after reading the Daily Mail’s claim about United’s £35m transfer kitty.

According to Portuguese publication Record, United are frontrunners for Neves’ signing, but there’s a twist. Benfica are determined to hold on to their starlet unless a club meets the release clause.

Neves is a holding midfielder and possesses a great range of range of passing at the age of 19, and he’s already been capped for the Portugal national team which proves his pedigree.

That said, I think INEOS will look to the market for more sensible buys than forking out £120m on a 19-year-old.