Manchester United is eager to sign Benfica midfielder João Neves

According to Portuguese media outlet "Record," Manchester United is eager to sign Benfica midfielder João Neves, though the price and competition will be major obstacles.

Benfica president Rui Costa recently confirmed that the club, as usual, needs to generate funds this summer by selling some key players. João Neves could be one of the sacrificial options. The 19-year-old midfielder's impressive performances in the Primeira Liga and the Champions League have attracted the attention of several top clubs. Although Benfica hopes to keep João Neves for at least one more season, considering the financial situation and the increasing pursuit by major clubs, a transfer is becoming more likely.

Reportedly, Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, and Paris Saint-Germain have all shown strong interest in him. However, according to French media, despite the Ligue 1 giants not giving up on signing João Neves, the player’s release clause of 120 million euros and the competition from other clubs make achieving this goal quite difficult.

This means that currently, Premier League clubs have a certain advantage in the race for João Neves, especially Manchester United. The Red Devils have shown great interest in the player and are willing to pay a substantial price to bring him under the new owner Ratcliffe's command.

In addition to João Neves, another Benfica player, center-back António Silva, is also a key target for Manchester United and may be pursued in the near future.