Liverpool have intensified their efforts to sign Benfica midfielder Joao Neves
According to Portuguese news outlet O Jogo (h/t The Liverpool ECHO), Liverpool are among the host of top Premier League clubs interested in signing Benfica star Joao Neves.
Joao Neves is rated as one of the best young talents across the continent. A product of Benfica’s youth system, the defensive midfielder was promoted to the first team last January after the departure of Enzo Fernandez to Chelsea and he hasn’t looked back since then. At just 19 years of age, he has amassed 75 first-team appearances for Benfica, establishing himself as one of the best defensive midfielders in the division in the process.
Owing to his eye-catching performances for Roger Schmidt’s side, Neves was called up to the Portugal squad for the 2024 European Championships. Now that Portugal have bowed out of the competition after tasting defeat to France in the quarter-finals, the speculation around the teenager’s future at Benfica could once again ramp up.
The aforementioned report (h/t The Liverpool ECHO) claims that Liverpool are on the ‘attack’ to sign the Portuguese talent. However, Benfica will not be willing to listen to offers below €100m for the teenage prodigy, who has a contract until 2028. (Transfermarkt)
Liverpool are gearing up for a significant summer off the pitch as they look to rebuild the squad under new head coach Arne Slot. The Reds have understandably not yet signed a player in the summer transfer window as Arne Slot is taking time to evaluate the squad he inherited from Jurgen Klopp.
After missing out on the Premier League title and finishing third on the table, there is plenty of work to be done to ensure the Merseysiders are better place to compete on all trophy fronts under Slot in the 2024/25. Midfield is seemingly one area the Liverpool boss is hoping to strengthen amid interest in Neves.
Liverpool lost Fabinho to Saudi Arabia last summer and failed to replace him adequately thus far. While Wataru Endo has done a decent job upon his arrival from VfB Stuttgart in 2023, he is 31 and cannot be viewed as a long-term replacement for Fabinho. That said, the Reds do need a younger, more dynamic presence to act as glue between the defence and attack, and Neves fits that profile perfectly.
Speaking about the prodigious Portuguese talent, his international teammate Diogo Jota claimed as quoted by the Liverpool Echo that Neves had “the quality and the mindset to go really far.”
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Neves’ age, quality, potential and profile are the key striking incentives for Liverpool to target him. The Portuguese has it in him to play for a historic club like Liverpool and shine at the highest level. The stumbling block is expected to be his price, but if we are to make a statement and help Slot challenge for major honours, our club must not hesitate to break the bank for one of the most coveted talents in European football.
