Star midfielder’s release clause set to be increased to £130 million in big blow for Man United

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Manchester United look to have suffered a blow in the race for SL Benfica midfielder Joao Neves, according to reports.

Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United have been linked with SL Benfica midfielder Joao Neves for a while but it never really looked like a move that the Red Devils could afford to make, due to how much the Portuguese giants were demanding for the teenager.

Everton midfielder Amadou Onana has been linked with the Red Devils at a more affordable price but Neves has thoroughly impressed for the Portuguese giants this season.

This has prompted the Red Devils to take a closer look at the midfielder and potentially make a move next summer.

Neves price tag

According to a report from Portuguese outlet O Jogo, Benfica are so concerned about losing the teenage midfielder that they are in negotiations to increase his release clause from €120 million (£104 million) to €150 million (£130 million) to ward off interested parties.

Speaking of interested parties, the report goes on to say that United are the ‘frontrunners’ for the signing, although there’s competition from the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool, Newcastle United and Barcelona.

Benfica president Rui Costa is doing all he can to hold onto the midfielder, hence the negotiations to try and increase his release clause at the club.

The report doesn’t state if United would make a move for the teenager but the Portuguese newspaper is insistent that the Red Devils are leading the race for the midfielder.

United won’t make a move

Despite the insistence from Portuguese reports that the midfielder is United’s top target to improve the engine room, Neves will surely not be a target for next summer if his release clause is increased.

At the best of times, United can be stingy with their money but £130 million on a midfielder who is enjoying only his second full season in professional football is a massive risk and one deal that the Red Devils do need to be stingy on.

With Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos at the helm, the hope will be the experienced team will have enough know-how and the right people in charge to be able to discover a cheaper, more experienced alternative.

Despite Onana not playing during United’s win over the Toffees, the Belgian midfielder may well be the exact profile that the Red Devils need.