In a recent report, O Jogo mentioned that Liverpool are facing stiff competition for Benfica midfielder Joao Neves. It has been stated that the Reds would have to rival Manchester United, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain in the race to land the Portuguese midfield ace.
Neves’ Good Run Of Form In Portuguese Football
Neves is enjoying a decent campaign at the Portuguese club after putting in a run of solid displays at the centre of their midfield. The 19-year-old has featured in 45 matches for Benfica this season, scoring two goals and grabbing two assists in various competitions.
The Tavira-born talent has been a positive influence in both halves and has done well to average 2.0 tackles, 1.0 interceptions, 0.9 clearances, 0.7 shots, 0.7 key passes and 1.2 dribbles per game in Liga Portugal. He has even distributed the ball relatively well after completing 90% of his attempted passes in the Portuguese top tier (stats via whoscored).
Neves’s current contract at Benfica will run out in the summer of 2028 which could make it tough for Liverpool to sign him on the cheap later this year.
Liverpool Are Facing Stiff Competition For Neves: Is He Worth The Fight?
Neves can do a little bit of everything at the centre of the park. He is a solid tackler of the ball and can time his challenges well to secure the ball back for his side in the middle of the pitch. The Portuguese talent usually puts his foot through the ball when the opposition are on the offensive.
Neves can even shoot the ball with power from long range and has got the eye to create some decent plays for others around him. He is also proficient at makinh some intelligent runs from midfield.
The Portuguese starlet is primarily a defensive midfielder but can also play as a box-to-box midfielder or operate in the number position if needed. He would improve the quality of Liverpool‘s midfield department in the long run.
Neves is already good enough to fight for a regular first-team spot at Anfield next season and would serve as an ideal understudy to Wataru Endo, who is entering the twilight years of his career, at the Merseyside club. Hence, he would be well worth the fight, so the Reds should go all out to recruit him in the summer.
