Liverpool transfers: Reds contact Benfica over €120m Joao Neves deal

Liverpool have contacted Benfica over in-demand midfielder Joao Neves according to the latest reports in Portugal. 

Neves, 19, has established himself as one of the best up and coming young midfielders in Europe over the last year and there is now a Premier League-wide scramble to sign him, according to O Jogo. 

In a report revealing English interest in EIGHT current Benfica stars, it was revealed that enquiries had come from Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester United over Neves. 

The homegrown creator signed a new Benfica deal at the start of last season, tying him to the club until 2028, and there is reported to be a buyout clause of €120 million in his current deal. 

It’s been reported that the Lisbon giants are desperate to renew Neves’ deal and offer him a pay bump but those efforts have so far fallen on deaf ears. 

Paris Saint-Germain also present a significant threat with Luis Enrique eager to unite Neves with his Portugal midfield partner in the French capital. 

Neves played 55 matches for Benfica last season including six in the Champions League. 

Liverpool midfield recruitment

Liverpool are reported to be in the market for a midfield specialist this summer with Thiago Alcantara out of contract and now heading for retirement. 

Wataru Endo was recruited from Stuttgart last summer to fill in as No.6 with fellow new signing Alexis Mac Allister also featuring in that position last season. 

Other names linked with an Anfield arrival this summer have been Teun Koopmeiners, Joshua Kimmich and Emerson. 

Former Feyenoord midfielder Mats Wieffer meanwhile - an Arne Slot favourite during his time in Rotterdam - has moved to Brighton with the Liverpool boss insisting that the Merseysiders were never in the race for the Dutch international. 

The Reds are yet to make a senior summer signing under new sporting director Richard Hughes, with the Scotsman revealing on Friday that his team would be looking to be ‘opportunistic’ in the market.