Paris Saint-Germain “very close” to landing João Neves for price offered by Man United | OneFootball

After the impressive coup in landing French prodigy Leny Yoro, Ineos have an even bigger mountain to climb if they are also to sign another generational talent, João Neves of Benfica.

United have been linked to the 19 year old all summer and there were even reports that they had lodged a €70 million bid, but the story went that Benfica were holding out for Neves’ €120 million release clause.

Paris Saint-Germain were always the other team active in the race for Neves and while United appeared to concede defeat and start looking elsewhere, notably at PSG’s own Manuel Ugarte, the French champions have continued to push and have themselves now lodged a €70 million bid of their own.

With Neves’ contract expiring in a year’s time, and with no auction forthcoming, it would seem that Benfica’s president Rui Costa now knows he has to be realistic over the fee.

Neves himself has said he wants to go to Paris, and so, according to this morning’s paper edition of Record, a deal is drawing close, frustratingly, at the price that United were reportedly willing to pay.

“The soap opera João Neves may be about to end,” Record says. “The midfielder is very close to leaving Benfica for PSG.

“Negotiations between Benfica and PSG have progressed so much in the last few hours that the deal is very close to being concluded.”

The paper confirms that PSG have still not gone beyond their €70 million bid, and although Benfica are trying to eke out more, they appear resigned to accepting that amount.

O Jogo confirm Record’s story and state that the cash offer is even lower.

“Although it does not yet reach the values ​​defined or expected by Rui Costa and his peers, the cheque includes 60 million euros, which includes an additional sum of 10 million upon the achievement of certain objectives.”

They say that “The deal still doesn’t please Rui Costa, who will try to raise the bar a little higher.” That slight increase includes asking for Renato Sanches in part-exchange.

But if United are still willing to pay the same, they have another problem now.

According to Record, Neves “prefers the French champion to Manchester United and the Reds are already practically considering him lost.

“Manchester United and another English club were in the race to sign the Portuguese international, but Neves, aged 19, preferred to head to Paris.”

Whilst it is of course true that PSG can offer Neves Champions League football this season, the Premier League should surely offer him a greater challenge. United can also offer a strong contingent of lusophone players to provide a family for him, including Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Dalot, Casemiro and Antony.

Part owners Ineos have already shown they have a trick or two up their sleeve in transfer negotiations, so it is still possible that they could come back in for the holding midfielder, who would be a dream successor to Casemiro and the perfect partner for Kobbie Mainoo. But it seems, if they are to do so, they will need to act fast.

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