Man United could include Mason Greenwood in a swap deal to sign £102m-rated Benfica Wonderkid this summer

Man United could include Mason Greenwood in a swap deal to sign £102m-rated Benfica Wonderkid this summer

The Old Trafford club is gearing up for the summer transfer window, but Sir Jim Ratcliffe has a clear plan in mind.

Ineos has always insisted that clubs look to build for the future rather than relying on big names to fill squads, and Ratcliffe made this clear before the transfer window opened by emphasizing in an interview with British cyclist Geraint Thomas that he would rather sign the “next Kylian Mbappe” than shell out a lot of money for the real deal.

Therefore, it is not surprising to see the names that have been linked to a move to Old Trafford this summer.

Benfica’s Joao Neves is another name who can be added to that list. The 19-year-old defensive midfielder has played with experience above his years in Portugal which earned him a place in Portugal’s stacked squad for Euro 2024.

The issue with going after supreme younger talent is the cost implications of doing that. Benfica reportedly want as much as £100m if they are to let their midfielder go this summer and are determined to ensure he spends at least another season in Portugal.

With Ratcliffe insistent that United will not be ‘held to ransom’ this transfer window, signing Neves appeared to be a pipe dream. However, MEN Sport understands the Reds could hold themselves an unexpected bargaining chip.

The Portuguese club are one of six who hold an interest in signing Mason Greenwood this summer. The winger is intended to be sold by United this summer after spending the entirety of last season on loan at Getafe.

He was suspended by United in January 2022 amid allegations of attempted rape, assault and controlling and coercive behaviour. A lengthy investigation into the case then followed, with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) dropping all charges against Greenwood in February 2023.

A United statement at the time read: “Manchester United notes the decision of the Crown Prosecution Service that all charges against Mason Greenwood have been dropped. The club will now conduct its own process before determining next steps. We will not make any further comment until that process is complete.”

With both parties looking to part ways, United reportedly value Greenwood at £40m. Theoretically, the Reds could decrease the asking price for Neves significantly if they throw the winger into the deal as well.

Suddenly, £60m for a midfielder who is sure to have a promising future in football seems incredibly reasonable and with Ineos on the lookout for bargains this summer, it makes plenty of sense too