£106m Joao Felix is reportedly coveted by Premier League champions Manchester City but could he replace Bayern Munich target Leroy Sane?
Manchester City appear to be stepping up their pursuit of Benfica wonder-kid Joao Felix with the Sun (31 May, page 64) reporting that the club’s chief executive Ferran Soriano had a meeting with the playmaker’s agent on Thursday.
The 19-year-old is perhaps the most coveted young talent anywhere in world football, having been compared to the likes of Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo and Johan Cruyff during a remarkable breakthrough season at the Estadio da Luz.
Felix scored 20 goals in all competitions from an attacking midfield role as Benfica pipped Porto to the Primeira Liga title.
And The Sun reports that City have held talks about luring him to the Etihad with Soriano discussing a potential deal with Felix’s agent Jorge Mendes and Benfica president Luis Filipe Vieira in London.
Felix has a release clause in his contract worth £106 million and Benfica are unlikely to budge from that valuation. But Manchester City could fund a deal by selling Leroy Sane to Bayern Munich, although they have already rejected a £70 million bid from the Bundesliga champions.
City want closer to £90 million for the German international, who they have failed to tie down to a new contract despite starting talks 18 months ago.
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