According to a report by Record via Sport Witness, Arsenal and Liverpool are keen on 19-year-old Benfica midfielder Joao Neves. The Portuguese giants will demand €120 million to part ways with the teenage sensation.
Benfica have been a difficult club to negotiate with in the past as well. They sold Enzo Fernandez to Chelsea at the start of the year for a premium fee, and they will demand a similar price for Neves as well.
The 19-year-old is highly rated around Europe, and he is expected to develop into a world-class player with the right guidance. He has established himself as a key player for the Portuguese club, and it remains to be seen whether Arsenal and Liverpool are prepared to pay that kind of money for him.
Although the €120 million asking price seems exorbitant right now, the 19-year-old certainly has the potential to justify the investment in the long term. Arsenal will need to add more quality and depth to their midfield, especially if Thomas Partey moves on.
The Ghanaian midfielder has been linked with a move away from Arsenal, and he is currently sidelined with an injury. It will be interesting to see if Arsenal decide to test Benfica’s resolve with an offer during the January transfer window.
Meanwhile, Liverpool will need to add more depth to their midfield as well. Neves should undoubtedly be a solid long-term investment for them, and working under Jurgen Klopp at Anfield could help the 19-year-old develop further.
The German manager has done well to nurture several talented young players throughout his managerial career, and he could help the 19-year-old fulfill his tremendous potential. The opportunity to play for clubs like Arsenal and Liverpool can be quite attractive for most players, and the 19-year-old is likely to be tempted as well.
It will be interesting to see how the situation develops over the next few weeks. The highly-rated midfielder has the technical attributes to succeed in English football, and he will fancy his chances of winning major trophies with clubs like Arsenal and Liverpool.
