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1 month ago
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For a few weeks now, PSG has made João Neves its priority in midfield. The Portuguese midfielder, who is only 19, is coming off his first season as a starter but his talent has been obvious under Roger Schmidt (55 matches played). He has even been called up by Roberto Martinez to play in Euro 2024 (2 appearances). The first contacts have been rather positive between the two managements who know each other well having done some business in recent years (Bernat, Draxler, Ramos).
The situation is quite simple. The Águias want to keep their star for one more season, and are instead prioritizing the sale of Antonio Silva. However, there are two problems with this. First, there is no rush for the central defender. Second problem, the Portuguese club submitted an extension proposal to João Neves, who refused it. However, he would have doubled his salary, going from 500,000 euros per year to 1 million euros. The player knows full well that he can earn much more elsewhere.
Time is on Benfica’s side
From then on, Benfica has somewhat accepted losing him this summer. Especially since the suitors are jostling for position. In addition to PSG, Manchester United are very interested. João Neves’ contract currently runs until 2028 with a release clause of €120 million. Rui Costa, president of the Lisbon club, has already indicated that an offer of around €100 million would do the trick. To lower the bill even further, the Parisian club has offered to include one of its players in the operation. Renato Sanches and Carlos Soler have been mentioned.
After the first contacts, it’s time for the official offers. According to the Mail from ManhãPSG and the Red Devils have gone on the offensive. They both submitted an initial offer of €70 million, which was rejected by Benfica, who, as stated above, are waiting for €30 million more to give in. They will therefore have to be more convincing in the coming days and revise their offer upwards. This is the only condition since time is rather on the side of the Águias in this case, between the length of the player’s contract and the economic data.
Written by:
Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team.
 
 As an author for the website, Manu's expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers.
 
 When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Manu enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans. Feel free to follow Manu on Twitter and interact with him as he shares his expert opinions, insights, and love for French football.
