MCFC are currently the favourites to sign Benfica’s Joao Neves but as per the latest reports, even Manchester United are interested in the defensive midfielder.
The youngster is a product of the Benfica academy and he made his senior debut in 2022. So far, Neves has played in 30 games for the club and this past year, the two Manchester sides have scouted Joao Neves multiple times.
His senior contract with Benfica runs out in 2028 so the Portuguese club are in no hurry to cash in him but Benfica are a selling club which means the right transfer fee will be enough to ignite a sale.
Both the EPL sides are highly impressed with the defensive midfielder and if everything goes to plan then these two will fight it out for him.
MCFC signed Matheus Nunes from Wolves in the summer but the midfielder has not turned out to be a success at the club while the other signing, Mateo Kovacic isn’t a long-term solution. This means Man City will do a minor midfield overhaul next summer and right now, the current English champions are the favourites to sign Joao Neves.
Manchester United, on the other hand, are desperate to sign a new defensive midfielder because Casemiro has seen a massive dip in form so Ten Hag needs a long-term solution.
United have signed Sofyan Amrabat so one of the two defensive midfield positions is sorted and someone like Joao Neves can certainly be the ideal replacement for Casemiro.
Kobbie Mainoo has shown great promise but the United youngster has picked up a big injury so it remains to be seen if he is up for the task or not. Like Mainoo, Joao Neves is also a young talent so it will be a gamble to pay big money for him but right now, MUFC are desperate to make things work.
Ten Hag has full faith in Mainoo and if he comes good then we don’t think Manchester United will go after Joao Neves but if he cannot prove himself by the end of this season then they are surely going to battle MCFC for the 19-year-old’s signature.
MCFC will be sitting pretty because they know they have everything going their way. They are one of the best teams in Europe right now and at the same time, they have money to spend in the market. A youngster like Joao Neves will do anything to play under Pep Guardiola so if City are ready to pay the right amount then they won’t have to work too much.
