Joao Neves price rises dramatically to match Liverpool interest

Benfica are raising the price on Joao Neves as interest in the midfielder grows at a rapid pace. Liverpool want the player.

This comes form O Jogo. The Portuguese paper claims that Joao Neves will soon have a release clause of around €150m or £130m.

That's particularly relevant as Benfica intend to stick to his release clause as a price tag going forward. It comes as intest in Neves grows as a rapid pace.

After all, here's a player who didn't have a place in their team 12 months ago. The January sale of Enzo Fernandez changed everything, though, leaving Benfica's faith in the teenager.

Neves responded with sparkling form that has only improved this season. He's still only 19, of course, but there's a sense that he could actually be an even better talent than Enzo.

Liverpool are one side who looked at Enzo and are now reportedly eyeing up Neves. They're name-dropped in the O Jogo piece and this is far from the first time they've been linked with the midfielder.

The Reds have also done business with Benfica in recent years. They signed Darwin Nunez for a massive fee in mid-2022, while they went to the Portuguese top flight to sign Luis Diaz from FC Porto, too.

But as everyone saw at the start of 2023, Benfica will stick to a 'ridiculous' price if need be. They wanted record money for Enzo, stuck to their guns, and eventually got it from Chelsea.

It now sounds like they'll do the same here and may even demand more for their home-grown talent. It's entirely possible that they lower that fee for a summer transfer but if anyone wants Neves in January, they'll be looking at another record transfer.

And who knows? Benfica might just get their way again and secure it from someone.