Liverpool are entering a brand new chapter following the departure of long-standing manager Jurgen Klopp, and Arne Slot will be hoping to make a strong first impression on the Anfield faithful.
There has been a full reshuffle behind the scenes since the German coach called time on his tenure on the red side of Merseyside, with ex-sporting director Michael Edwards making a shock return and former AFC Bournemouth recruitment whiz Richard Hughes joining the club to work on bringing in some fresh new talent.
Last week sparked the end of an era with centre-back Joel Matip and midfield master Thiago Alcantara departing the club following the end of their contracts, while replacing their influence won’t be easy, it will be important for the hierarchy at the club to find their successors.
The Reds are yet to make a first-team signing this summer, however, with the Euros and Copa America coming to an end next week, it is expected that the club will be hard at work identifying their targets.
A popular Portuguese news outlet has reported in the last few days that Liverpool have made contact with Benfica about the potential of signing their midfield sensation Joao Neves this summer.
Liverpool will reportedly have strong competition as the 19-year-old is in high demand, with Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal also named as potential suitors for the young star.
Will Liverpool sign Joao Neves?
It is no secret that Liverpool are in the process of building the next generation of success at Anfield, with a huge investment into the midfield personnel completed last summer.
Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch all became key players in the centre of the pitch last season, however, there is definitely room for further improvement ahead of next season.
The departure and retirement of Thiago presents an opportunity to bring in another midfield specialist with huge technical ability, something Neves could provide if a deal could be struck this summer.
Over 33 appearances in Liga Portugal, the Euro 2024 star – who has a £105m release clause – scored three goals, registered one assist and had a 90% pass completion rate, as well as averaging two tackles, 1.1 interceptions, 6.4 ball recoveries and six duels won in total per game, as per SofaScore.
Not only that, Neves ranks in the top 10% of his positional peers across the Men’s Next Eight Competitions (FBref) for passes attempted, pass completion, successful take-ons and blocks per 90 minutes played.
With that being said, there is no doubt Neves is an exciting prospect that could serve Liverpool with individual brilliance for many years to come, but Hughes must be prepared for a potential bidding war as the young player is on the radar of many rivals in the Premier League.
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