Benfica president Rui Costa has disclosed that a bid has been made for Joao Neves, a target for Arsenal and Manchester United.
The 19-year-old midfielder is one of Europe’s most sought-after players this summer following an outstanding season in Portugal’s top flight. Arsenal and United are likely to face competition from other European clubs for the talented youngster, who has drawn comparisons to Manchester City’s Rodri.
Costa has indicated that Neves could be sold for less than his £101 million release clause, which could spark a bidding war among the interested parties.
“I never said that Joao Neves would only leave for his release clause and therefore, those claims are false,” he told A Bola. “What I can say concerning Joao Neves is that there is an offer on the table. That has been in the news in the last days but I’m not going to say where this proposal stands.”
“There is a proposal on the table which is being evaluated and is being discussed. But at this moment, Joao Neves remains a Benfica player. It’s not that I want to hide the ins and outs because I understand that Benfica fans want to know whether Joao will be leaving or not.
“But at this moment, there are ongoing negotiations, so please allow me to be reserved about this subject so we can take care of what will be the best outcome for Benfica.”
The bid in question is reportedly from Paris Saint-Germain, with the French champions eager to invest heavily in bolstering their midfield.
Arsenal and Manchester United have frequently been linked with Joao Neves, who has made 75 appearances for Benfica and earned nine caps for Portugal, including two at Euro 2024.
Portuguese outlet Record suggests that negotiations between PSG and Benfica could be finalized by the end of this week.
