“I’m thrilled that he’ll be our initial acquisition this year. He strongly resembles Andre Iniesta in his talent. We’ve already formed a friendship.” – Bruno Fernandes expresses his excitement about Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s £100m ‘top Manchester United transfer target’, as they near completion of the signing.

Manchester United have reportedly set their sights on Benfica midfielder Joao Neves as a primary target for the upcoming summer transfer window. The 19-year-old holding midfielder has garnered attention as one of the emerging talents in European football, having made 27 appearances this season, including six in the Champions League.

Despite being under contract with Benfica until 2028 and having a hefty €120m (£103m) release clause, United are purportedly keen on securing his services.

According to reports, United are gearing up to commence discussions regarding a potential transfer for Neves, with plans for him to join the club in the summer. With Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s recent acquisition of a 25 per cent stake in the club and subsequent involvement in football operations, Neves is believed to be a priority investment for Manchester United.

In a bid to deter any competition for Joao Neves’ signature, The Mirror reports that Manchester United will soon lay the groundwork for a potential move for the defensive midfielder. This is seen as a strategic move given the potential need for reinforcements in midfield, particularly with Casemiro approaching his 32nd birthday and Sofyan Amrabat being a loan signing.

Despite Benfica manager Roger Schmidt’s assertion that none of his star players will depart during the January transfer window, United captain Bruno Fernandes has openly expressed his enthusiasm for Neves joining the club. Fernandes stated, “I would love to have him at United, he has top quality!”

However, he acknowledged that the decision ultimately rests with Neves and the manager’s plans. MEN Sport previously reported in September that United are eyeing key signings in four areas for the upcoming summer transfer window, with center-midfield being one of the positions targeted, despite recent acquisitions such as Amrabat and Mason Mount.

Manchester United have reportedly set their sights on Benfica midfielder Joao Neves as a primary target for the upcoming summer transfer window. The 19-year-old holding midfielder has garnered attention as one of the emerging talents in European football, having made 27 appearances this season, including six in the Champions League.

Despite being under contract with Benfica until 2028 and having a hefty €120m (£103m) release clause, United are purportedly keen on securing his services.

According to reports, United are gearing up to commence discussions regarding a potential transfer for Neves, with plans for him to join the club in the summer. With Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s recent acquisition of a 25 per cent stake in the club and subsequent involvement in football operations, Neves is believed to be a priority investment for Manchester United.

In a bid to deter any competition for Joao Neves’ signature, The Mirror reports that Manchester United will soon lay the groundwork for a potential move for the defensive midfielder. This is seen as a strategic move given the potential need for reinforcements in midfield, particularly with Casemiro approaching his 32nd birthday and Sofyan Amrabat being a loan signing.

Despite Benfica manager Roger Schmidt’s assertion that none of his star players will depart during the January transfer window, United captain Bruno Fernandes has openly expressed his enthusiasm for Neves joining the club. Fernandes stated, “I would love to have him at United, he has top quality!”

However, he acknowledged that the decision ultimately rests with Neves and the manager’s plans. MEN Sport previously reported in September that United are eyeing key signings in four areas for the upcoming summer transfer window, with center-midfield being one of the positions targeted, despite recent acquisitions such as Amrabat and Mason Mount.