Should Manchester United set their sights on acquiring Joao Neves from Benfica, they’ll confront the staggering hurdle of activating his astronomical release clause. Fabrizio Romano reports that the Portuguese champions have firmly shut the door on any negotiations regarding the potential sale of the player, a prime target for Manchester United in January.
For United to secure Neves for their squad, they’ll be mandated to meet his eye-watering release clause of €120m (£105m/$131m), a figure established during the summer. Neves, displaying immense promise, might attract substantial bids from interested parties in the future. However, United is likely to encounter significant hurdles in their pursuit during the winter transfer window.
Manchester United had opted for a rather conservative approach in their summer investments, favoring loan acquisitions over permanent signings in positions like Sergio Reguilon and Sofyan Amrabat. Neves’s formidable release clause mirrors the situation Benfica faced with Enzo Fernandez last January, which ultimately led to Chelsea paying the release clause to secure his move to Stamford Bridge. However, replicating such a move might be improbable for the Red Devils.
Although Erik ten Hag’s team is grappling with numerous injuries in defense and midfield, the chances of securing Neves in January appear slim. United might face a dilemma: either persist in pursuing Neves despite the challenges or redirect their attention toward alternative targets to bolster their squad.