Manchester United are interested in a potentially huge summer signing – who has confirmed that he could be on the move.
Things are beginning to fall into place for the Red Devils ahead of the first summer with Sir Jim Ratcliffe at the helm. Omar Berrada has been brought in from rivals Manchester City, while Newcastle United transfer guru Dan Ashworth is set to move to the club next.
And with an expected increase in transfer funds this summer, a nine-figure move could be on the cards.
Benfica superstar midfielder Joao Neves has told Sport TV in his native Portugal that his priority is to finish his season strongly, adding, “Then you never know, I can’t promise anything,” in reference to a potential summer move.
Neves has been consistently linked with a move to the 20-time English champions, with his club putting out an extraordinary statement last month to deny that he was going to leave the Primeira Liga. With interest established, however, Neves' latest comments are the biggest indication yet that he may move this summer.
The starlet has a £103 million release clause, placing him in the same bracket as Chelsea-bound Enzo Fernandez, who moved from River Plate in the summer of 2022 before completing a blockbuster switch to west London off the back of a successful World Cup in Qatar with Argentina.
Neves was named among FourFourTwo's 50 most exciting teenagers to watch this season, as we noted, “He's physical, carries the ball with purpose and he's able to affect all phases of play, while his line-breaking passes and ability to ghost past players is impressive, too.”
The 19-year-old is valued at €45m by Transfermarkt.
More Manchester United stories
Who is Dan Ashworth? Newcastle director tipped to join Manchester United amid INEOS reshuffle
'I rejected Manchester United': Portugal superstar reveals he turned down Red Devils move – because it wasn’t ‘the right time’
Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants exciting young star as his first signing: report