Manchester United are consistently linked with Joao Neves and the latest reports coming from Portugal are intriguing.

According to O Jogo, Man Utd have stepped up their game to sign the midfielder but Benfica do not end to lose him in the middle of the campaign.

Read – Man Utd want priority CB, target £43million star signing – Report

The media outlet have mentioned that United have intensified their efforts to sign Neves but Rui Costa, Benfica president, wants to hold on to the player even beyond this season.

It is stated that the only way to secure the player’s signature in the winter transfer window is to activate the £104m release clause.

As per Diario de Noticias, AC Milan are interested in signing Joao Neves but the Italian giants do not have the funds to meet the clause to unite the player with compatriot, Rafael Leao.

On the other hand, the midfielder has ‘aroused the greed of Manchester United’, who are arguing to be able to activate the release £104m release clause to secure the signing.

DN claim the Liga Nos champions do not want to enter any sort of negotiations for the sale of the player before the end of the current campaign. Therefore, the termination clause is the reference point.

Joao Neves has already made three appearances for the senior national side at the age of 19 and during the international break, he got minutes in the victories against Liechtenstein and Iceland.