In a recent report, A Bola (via Sport Witness) claimed that Manchester City are facing a losing battle for Benfica midfielder Joao Neves this summer. It has been revealed that the Portuguese midfielder has his heart set on a move to Paris Saint-Germain amid interest from Man City and Manchester United.
Neves’ Impressive Rise In Portuguese Football
Neves was a solid performer at the centre of Benfica’s defence last season when he put in a series of impressive displays at the centre of their midfield. The talented defender participated in 55 matches for the Portuguese outfit in the previous campaign, scoring three goals and earning two assists in all competitions.
The 19-year-old has been a decent performer in the middle of the park based on his average of 2.0 tackles, 1.1 interceptions, 1.0 clearances, 0.9 shots, 0.8 key passes and 1.2 dribbles per 90 minutes in Liga Portugal. He was even accurate when distributing the ball from midfield after completing 89.9% of his attempted passes in the Portuguese top flight (stats via whoscored).
His current contract at Benfica will expire in the summer of 2028 which could make it tough for Man City to recruit him in this summer transfer period.
What Should Manchester City Boss Pep Guardiola Do With Regards To Neves?
Neves is a solid tackler of the ball and can make some important interceptions for his team inside his half. He usually clears the danger when the opposition are on the front foot and can strike the ball well from long range. The Portuguese sensation is a decent dribbler with the ball and can create some inviting chances for others around him in the opposition half.
Neves is primarily a defensive midfielder but can also play as a box-to-box midfielder or as a right-sided wide player if told to do so. However, he is still quite raw and would need time to prove his worth at the highest level.
If Neves has his heart set on a move to Paris Saint-Germain, Man City boss Pep Guardiola would find it difficult to get him on board this summer. The Mancunian giants should rather focus on signing some of their other transfer targets if they intend to strengthen their squad before the end of this window.
