Arsenal and Liverpool have joined the race to sign Benfica midfielder Joao Neves having scouted him in action on Sunday.
Benfica talent Joao Neves is now on the radar at Arsenal and Liverpool having shown big potential in Portugal.
That is according to 90Min, who claim that English scouts have flocked to watch Neves in action.
Benfica hosted Lisbon rivals Sporting on Sunday night and seemed to be heading for a 1-0 defeat, despite Sporting having 10 men for most of the second half.
Benfica found a 94th-minute leveller through Neves before Casper Tengstedt won it, sending the Estadio da Luz into absolute mayhem.
Arsenal and Liverpool interested in Joao Neves
90Min claim that both Arsenal and Liverpool sent scouts to watch Neves in action on Sunday.
It’s stated that both Manchester City and Manchester United are keen admirers of Neves but the race is now heating up.
Arsenal have chopped and changed their midfield this season and may see Neves as being a better fit than another Portuguese midfielder in Fabio Vieira.
A move to Liverpool would be a surprise though having invested in Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch.
Neves did himself no harm by drilling home Benfica’s leveller, showing his composure and technique under real pressure.
Benfica will surely demand big money for Neves, maybe even pointing towards his huge €120million (£104.5million) release clause.
It’s unlikely that anybody would pay that fee, but Neves is on the rise and could find himself in the Premier League very soon.
Who is Benfica wonderkid Neves?
Neves joined the Benfica ranks aged just seven and has progressed all the way up to becoming a first-team star.
The 19-year-old only played 11 times for Benfica’s B team before being promoted to first-team action.
A diminutive midfielder, Neves has been hailed as ‘complete’ and ‘very intelligent’ by his former Benfica coach Luis Castro.
Neves is now considered to be a future star for club and country having already picked up his first senior Portugal cap in October.
Neves could feature at Euro 2024 if he continues to shine this season, with Arsenal and Liverpool scouts no doubt following him along the way.
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