According to rumors in Portugal, Benfica has rejected Manchester United‘s latest bid for midfield sensation Joao Neves.
United are looking to acquire a new holding midfielder this summer, and while they have asked about Paris Saint-Germain’s Manuel Ugarte, they have long admired Neves.
In June, it was claimed that United made an initial bid of €60 million (£51 million) for the 19-year-old, which was quickly rejected by Benfica. Correio da Manhã reports that a new bid of €70 million (£60 million) had been rejected.
United and PSG are alleged to have had identical proposals rejected by the Portuguese heavyweights.
Neves has a release clause of €120m (£105m) written into his contract, the same figure Chelsea were eventually forced to pay up in order to prise Enzo Fernandez away from Benfica in January 2023.
Neves replaced Fernandez in their midfield and been a mainstay in the side ever since, currently with the Portugal squad at Euro 2024.
Benfica remain determined to hold onto their prized asset but could be willing to negotiate on a price following the European Championship.
United are the only Premier League side make an offer for Neves so far but both Chelsea and Arsenal have also shown interest in the Portuguese starlet.
With Erik ten Hag signing a contract extension until 2026 and Dan Ashworth now in place as sporting director, United are expected to step up their transfer business in the coming weeks.
The team is now in negotiations with Bayern Munich about signing defender Matthijs de Ligt, with the goal of completing a move of £40 million.
United are also interested in Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite, but are unwilling to pay the Toffees’ £70 million asking price for the centre-half.
A handful of players, including Casemiro, are anticipated to go, creating a midfield need to be addressed this summer.
United also hope to cash in Mason Greenwood and Jadon Sancho with the futures of Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Aaron Wan-Bissaka also uncertain.