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Reported Wolves target Joao Felix could be the new Cruyff, Benfica legend claims

West German goalkeeper Sepp Maier catches the ball in front of Dutch forward Johan Cruyff as defender Franz Beckenbauer (L) looks on, 07 July 1974 ...
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Premier League high-flyers Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly leading the chase to sign Benfica starlet Joao Felix.

Joao Felix of Benfica celebrates his second goal  during the Portuguese League football match between SL Benfica and Rio Ave FC at Luz Stadium in Lisbon on January 6, 2019.

Joao Felix has been compared to a number of world-renowned talents since making his breakthrough in the Benfica first team this season, from Kylian Mbappe to Manuel Rui Costa, Kaka to Cristiano Ronaldo. Now, you can add Johan Cryuff to that list.

In quotes reported by Paraeles, legendary Benfica winger Antonio Simoes has claimed that the 19-year-old could be the second coming of arguably the most influential footballer of the 20th century, a forward who turned Barcelona into the club they are today.

“Johan Cruyff! He (Felix) has the same elegance and form of play. But do not start calling him king because he is still just a prince,” said Simoes, who won 10 Primeira Liga titles with The Eagles and finished third in the 1966 World Cup.

Clearly, Felix has a long way to go before he can be considered on the same plane as the legendary Dutch number 14.

West German goalkeeper Sepp Maier catches the ball in front of Dutch forward Johan Cruyff as defender Franz Beckenbauer (L) looks on, 07 July 1974 in Munich, during the World Cup soccer...

But it is comparisons like this that explain why Wolverhampton Wanderers have dived headfirst into the race to sign arguably European football’s most coveted young midfielder.

The Mirror report that Wolves are leading the chase for Felix, thanks to their connections with the Iberian super-agent Jorge Mendes, while TEAMtalk claims they are confident of landing him for less than his £105 million release clause.

£105 million will look like small change, however, if Felix does prove to be the second coming of King Johan.

SL Benfica midfielder Joao Felix from Portugal during the match between SL Benfica and Vitoria Setubal FC for the Internacional Tournament of Sadoat Estudio do Bonfim on July 13, 2018 in...