João Neves has reportedly signed with Paris Saint-Germain as reports indicate on Thursday. Moreover, the capital club would have beaten Manchester United for the SL Benfica standout.
Neves is set to join PSG in a deal valued at around €60 million, with an additional €10 million in potential add-ons. As part of the arrangement, PSG midfielder Renato Sanches will join Benfica on loan.
The 12-time French champions fended off interest from several European clubs, including Arsenal and Manchester United, to secure Neves’ services. The Portuguese international, versatile in various midfield positions, will now negotiate personal terms before finalizing his move to the French capital.
Football Transfers’ Robin Bairner wrote in his latest column why he believes Premier League clubs weren’t able to beat out PSG for the midfielder.
“England’s big clubs have been hamstrung by the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), limiting the number of big moves that can be made before sales,” Bairner wrote in his PSG Talk column. “Even Manchester United, one-time suitors for Neves, have been unable to challenge PSG in this case after spending in excess of €60m for Leny Yoro—a fee that the French side balked at.”
The midfielder had a standout season for Benfica last year, featuring in 33 league matches and playing every minute on their journey to the Europa League quarter-finals, where they were eventually defeated by Marseille.
