Manchester United's pursuit of Benfica's talented midfielder Joao Neves has suffered another setback, as their latest offer has been turned down by the Portuguese club, according to Metro
United have been in search of a robust holding midfielder during this transfer window. While they have shown interest in Paris Saint-Germain's Manuel Ugarte, Neves has remained a primary target.
Reports indicate that United initially tabled a bid of €60 million (£51 million) for the 19-year-old in June, which Benfica promptly declined.
The club has now reportedly upped their offer to €70 million (£60 million), but this, too, has been rejected. Paris Saint-Germain is also believed to have made a similar offer, facing the same outcome from Benfica.
Joao Neves, who has a release clause of €120 million (£105 million) in his contract, stepped into the shoes of Enzo Fernandez following his departure to Chelsea in January 2023.
Since then, Neves has established himself as a key player in Benfica's midfield and is currently representing Portugal at Euro 2024.
Despite their firm stance on retaining Neves, Benfica may become more open to negotiations once the European Championship ends.
So far, Manchester United are the only Premier League club to have made an official bid, although Chelsea and Arsenal have also expressed interest in the young talent.
With Erik ten Hag extending his contract until 2026 and Dan Ashworth joining as the new sporting director, Manchester United are expected to intensify their transfer efforts.
The club are in ongoing discussions with Bayern Munich regarding a £40 million deal for defender Matthijs de Ligt.
Additionally, United has shown interest in Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite, although they are hesitant to meet Everton's £70 million asking price.