Manchester United are planning to move forward with an offer for Joao Neves this summer, identifying the Benfica star as a long-term replacement Casemiro in midfield.
Neves replaced Enzo Fernandez in Benfica’s midfield following the latter’s move to Chelsea in January last year and has been a mainstay ever since with United among the clutch of clubs interested in signing him.
The 19-year-old has a huge £105million clause – the same figure Chelsea were forced to pay up for Fernandez – but United are planning to teat Benfica’s resolve with Record in Portugal reporting an opening offer is expected soon.
United are admirers of both Neves and his Benfica teammate Antonio Silva, the 19-year-old centre-half who represented Portugal at the World Cup in Qatar.
But United will prioritise a move for the midfielder with that area of the pitch in need of an urgent revamp with Casemiro’s future at the club uncertain.
After a superb first season at Old Trafford following his shock move from Real Madrid, the 32-year-old has struggled this campaign, looking a shadow of the player who starred alongside Toni Kroos and Luka Modric for so many years in the Spanish capital.
The Brazil international endured a humiliating night against Crystal Palace on Monday night playing at centre-half and is among those who could be moved on with Saudi clubs interested in both him and Raphael Varane.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS have already begun making major changes at the club with more upheaval unexpected this summer.
With the Premier League’s profit and sustainability regulations in mind, however, United will need to generate extra transfer funds through player sales and offload high earners to finance moves for targets like Neves.
In January, Benfica took the unusual step of releasing a statement to deny reports United had already held talks over a deal for the Portuguese midfielder.
Any move to Old Trafford would see him link up with countrymen Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot – with the United skipper recently declaring the teenager is ‘ready to make the jump’ to a ‘big club’.
‘I don’t know if United rumours are true, but I know he is ready for that big jump,’ said Fernandes in March.
‘He is an excellent player, he’s with the National team. That’s also why the big clubs are after him.’
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