Liverpool Transfer News: Reds to rival Man Utd for £103m teenager

Liverpool have reportedly entered the race to sign Manchester United midfield target Joao Neves from Benfica, with the teenager boasting a £103m release clause in his current deal. 

The Reds have now brought former sporting director Michael Edwards back to Liverpool as he takes on the role of CEO of Football for the club's owners Fenway Sports Group.

Edwards has since appointed Richard Hughes to take on his previous position as sporting director come the end of the season, with the 44-year-old having worked with Bournemouth for the last decade.

While the Reds still don't have a new manager lined up to replace Jurgen Klopp, they can begin to work on their transfer plans for the coming summer.

LIVERPOOL ENTER RACE FOR JOAO NEVES

According to Portuguese outlet O Jogo (via Sport Witness), one of Edwards and Hughes' first targets could be Benfica starlet Joao Neves, with the midfielder attracting interest from across Europe this summer.

Man Utd are eager to recruit the 19-year-old, while Chelsea, rather unsurprisingly, have also been touted with an interest in the wonderkid. Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich are other clubs on his long list of admirers.

Liverpool are reportedly eager to add more midfielders to their squad, despite the fact that they signed four last summer. As a result, they are now 'attentive' to Neves' situation ahead of the upcoming transfer window.

O Jogo report that no clubs have made a concrete move for Neves as of yet, with Liverpool described as one of the new 'sharks' in the race for his signature.

However, Neves will not come cheap, with Benfica having placed a €120m (£103m) release clause in his current deal to protect one of their prized assets.

Such a price tag would likely put Liverpool off any deal for the extremely talented Portugal international, with the club also expected to prioritise reinforcing other areas of their squad this summer such as central defence and the wings.

Neves has already made 45 appearances for Benfica this season, registering two goals and two assists for the Lisbon side.

Liverpool could face Neves in the semi-final of this year's Europa League, but only if the Reds make it past Atalanta and Benfica conquer Marseille in the quarter-finals.