Manchester United are expected to improve on their £50m/€60m offer for Benfica rising star João Neves to try and secure his signature this summer.
That’s according to A Bola, who say clubs are pushing to secure Neves’ signature and Manchester United are one of them.
A report earlier this week indicated that Manchester United had already bid for the highly rated youngster as they look to steal a march on any potential competition.
A Bola back this up stating that Benfica have received two €60m bids already but are expecting more. They, for now, are clinging to the hope of selling him for €120m, the value of the release clause in his current contract.
Two English clubs have already expressed their intention to pay €60m for him and Benfica know that they will be under increasing pressure in the coming months.
Manchester United are the most interested but Arsenal have also been named as suitors, albeit by reports in England.
The belief is that they will return to the charge for the midfielder soon and, while they are unlikely to go to the €120m clause, bids will be incoming.
Benfica had planned a new contract with an increased €150m clause and an increase in salary but that never came to fruition. They still have hope on that front and talks continue but it seems unlikely any such deal will be signed.
The Portuguese club need to make a big sale, something Rui Costa has admitted to, but they had planned for it to be defender António Silva. The market has not developed around him, though, and now the pressure is increasing on Neves.
Manchester United could use that to their advantage to drive a deal that suits them, with a second improved bid already anticipated at some point.
