Mason Greenwood is reportedly going to be used in a trade by Manchester United in order to get an excellent Benfica Wonderkid who is valued at £100 million and might be a potential partner for Kobbie Mainoo when the summer arrives.
The 19-year-old defensive midfielder for Portugal has proven to be more experienced than his years on the field, earning him a spot in the team that is loaded for Euro 2024.Benfica is determined to keep their midfield player in Portugal for at least another season, and if they are to let him go this summer, they are reportedly willing to pay up to £100 million.Signing Neves seemed like a pipe dream, as Ratcliffe insisted that United will not be “held to ransom” during this transfer window.
However, MEN Sport understands the Reds could hold themselves an unexpected bargaining chip.
The Portuguese club are one of six who hold an interest in signing Mason Greenwood this summer. The winger is intended to be sold by United this summer after spending the entirety of last season on loan at Getafe.
With both parties looking to part ways, United reportedly value Greenwood at £40m.
Theoretically, the Reds could decrease the asking price for Neves significantly if they throw the winger into the deal as well.
Suddenly, £60m for a midfielder who is sure to have a promising future in football seems incredibly reasonable and with Ineos on the lookout for bargains this summer, it makes plenty of sense too It looks like Manchester United are exploring a strategic approach to secure the young Portuguese defensive midfielder, Joao Neves, from Benfica. Despite Benfica’s high valuation of Neves at £100 million, United might leverage Mason Greenwood as a bargaining chip. Given that Benfica is interested in signing Greenwood, United could potentially reduce Neves’ transfer fee by including Greenwood in the deal, which might bring the cost down to a more manageable £60 million. This approach aligns with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS’ focus on finding cost-effective solutions during the transfer window.
