Benfica could be forced into selling Manchester City target Joao Neves this summer, according to O Jogo.
The newspaper claims that the Portuguese side’s president Rui Costa is seriously considering offloading the midfielder in order to “balance the books”.
Up until now, Benfica have been holding out for Neves’s release clause, which stands at €120m (£101m), but the deteriorating financial situation at the club may lead to this asking price being lowered.
Paris Saint-Germain are believed to have made the most effort in order to secure the 19-year-old’s signature but O Jogo report that both City and rivals Manchester United are also “keeping an eye” on the situation.
Neves has been scouted by City and other Premier League clubs
Journalist Fabrizio Romano has previously confirmed that the Premier League champions, Manchester United and Arsenal have sent observers to watch the Portuguese international in action.
However, the transfer fee needed to sign Neves has prevented any of these teams from stepping up their interest. Whether this latest development about Benfica’s need to sell will change that, we shall have to wait and see.
Silva is a massive fan of the player
Whilst away with Portugal at the European Championships last month, Bernardo Silva was asked to give his opinion on Neves’s potential. He made it clear in no uncertain terms that he would like City to sign him:
“I would say to him: ‘Go to City right now!’ It’s not easy, he’s a player that many clubs want because of the success he had last season. I don’t have any inside information, but I think so, from what I hear…”
“As a Portuguese and because he is someone I appreciate a lot, I would like to have him by my side [at City]. But I want him to take the best path, be it stay at Benfica or leave.”
