Arsenal now learn what it’ll take to enter Joao Neves negotiations from Benfica source

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Arsenal have recently been linked with Benfica midfielder Joao Neves, but a deal in the summer window will not be easy.

The 19-year-old midfielder has been outstanding for the Portuguese giants, with an astonishing 54 appearances across all competitions this season, and he is attracting interest from a lot of top clubs.

Arsenal have been credited with an interest in the teenage sensation. Mikel Arteta is in the market for a new midfielder, and Thomas Partey could be one who leaves to make way for a new option.

Neves is young, but he may be of the profile Arteta wants, and could develop into a superstar for years to come. However, there is one problem in any potential Arsenal deal involving Joao Neves.

Arsenal would need to pay full release clause for Joao Neves

Speaking on his YouTube channel, journalist Charles Watts revealed that Benfica do not intend to negotiate over Neves, and any interested party would have to pay his full release clause.

“The information I have on Joao Neves is that Benfica are very, very unwilling to do any sort of deal with Joao Neves this summer,” he stated.

“There is a caveat to that, that he does have a release clause. I was speaking to someone who I trust implicitly, who I know has very good information coming out of Benfica, and he was telling me that the club’s stance is absolutely that it is release clause or nothing.

“The word from Benfica is, if anyone is going to get him this summer, it is the release clause or nothing, because they are not even interested in entering into negotiations for him yet.”

Arsenal need to be wary despite Joao Neves quality

There is no denying the quality of midfielder Neves is, and he could be a good profile to play alongside Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard.

Although he is not the most physical, Neves has played both as a number six and further forward, and his sheer technical excellence makes him a reliable option to control the midfield.

However, paying his full release clause, which stands at around £86m, would not only be a hugely risky transfer for the club, but it could put extra pressure on Neves to deliver immediately.

Chelsea paid a British record fee to sign Enzo Fernandez from Benfica, but despite the midfielder showing his quality at the World Cup, he has struggled so far, and there is little guarantee that Neves would hit the ground running.

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Nevertheless, Arteta’s track record in the transfer market is so good that if he pushes for a huge deal to bring Neves in this summer, Arsenal fans should now trust his judgement.