Man Utd given greenlight to complete the sensational £103m Benfica midfielder deal with Sir Jim Ratcliffe keen to bring the star to Old Trafford

Man Utd given greenlight to complete the sensational £103m Benfica midfielder deal with Sir Jim Ratcliffe keen to bring the star to Old Trafford

Sir Jim Ratcliffe remains keen on bringing Joao Neves to Man Utd this summer

Manchester United have been given a lift over their bid to sign a top Benfica talent this summer, despite the Portuguese club standing firm over a potential £103million transfer, while Arsenal are pushing to sign a top LaLiga winger – all in Thursday’s edition of Euro Paper Talk.

reports coming out of Portugal appear to suggest that Manchester United still have hope of signing Benfica midfielder Joao Neves in the summer, although Sir Jim Ratcliffe may have some fierce negotiating to do.

A report this week from Portuguese outlet Record claimed that United have little chance in striking a transfer for the highly-rated 19-year-old.

But the player himself refused to rule out a summer exit when quizzed over his future when speaking to Sport TV.

Neves claims there is nothing certain about him staying with the Eagles for another season, although he remains fully committed for the remaining months of the current campaign.

The Portugal international said: “My desire at the moment is to finish the season in the best possible way, both individually and collectively. My desire at the moment is to stay at Benfica. Then you never know, I can’t promise anything.”

Earlier this year, Benfica actually even released an official statement making it clear that United do not have a priority to buy Neves, dismissing reports from England.

However, United’s interest has been reported for some time now and it appears they are determined to try and strike a deal this summer.

Neves still has £103m exit clause in place
That determination is likely to be tested in a major way by Benfica though, with Ratcliffe likely to have to offer big money to convince the Portuguese giants into a sale.

Neves currently has a release clause that stands at a whopping €120m (£103m)and Benfica are so far refusing to budge over that figure.

The midfield talent has scored twice and provided two assists in 35 games in all competitions this season, and although those stats are not exactly eye-opening he’s all-round play has been outstanding.

Ratcliffe, who hopes to have Dan Ashworth on board as the club’s new sporting director soon, is keen to revamp a United midfield that has often lacked quality and dynamism this term – although the emergence of Kobbie Mainoo has been one massive plus for the club.

The likes of Christian Eriksen and Casemiro could both make way for new additions this summer, while United are not expected to take up Sofyan Amrabat’s option to buy.

To that end, Neves could form an explosive new midfield partnership alongside Mainoo for whoever is in charge at Old Trafford next season, whether that’s Erik ten Hag or a new man at the helm.