The £130m midfield maestro Man Utd simply have to sign next year

Do you want the good news or the bad news first, Manchester United fans? Actually, what's the point in asking? You're going to be reading this in the future, and I have no way of communicating with you regardless. Anyways, good news first: the Red Devils are reportedly in 'first place' to sign Benfica midfielder Joao Neves. The bad news: he almost certainly won't be available to sign until the summer transfer window at least.

Perhaps the most astonishing detail of this story is that there has not already been a Premier League footballer called Joao Neves. Certainly, it has the feeling of a moniker of a player who might fritter away a season or two on the periphery of Wolves' squad before going on to bigger and better things in mainland Europe. On the basis of that alone, it is probably unsurprising that the actual Neves is represented by Iberian super-agent Jorge Mendes.

And Mr. Mendes has been busy too. According to an update from O Jogo, talks are ongoing between Neves' entourage and Benfica with view to extending his current contract at the Estadio da Luz. The starlet only penned a fresh deal in August, but has started the new campaign at such a canter that several clubs are understood to be monitoring his progress with great vigour.

United are chief among them, with O Jogo suggesting that they currently lead the chasing pack for the midfielder's signature. Any deal for the 19-year-old is likely to be both complex and expensive, however. For one thing, his current contract in Portugal runs until 2028, with the likelihood being that an amended agreement would last even longer than that. For another, it is suggested that his anticipated extension will include a release clause that could be worth as much as £130 million.

As such, United will be forced to bide their time if they are to prise Neves away from his boyhood club; then again, some things are worth waiting for. The teenager has shown himself to be a glittering talent this season - both well-rounded and in possession of a maturity far beyond his years. At the time of writing, Neves ranks among the top five in Benfica's squad when it comes to pass completion rate, successful dribbles, interceptions made, effective tackles, and average match rating. In fact, overall, he is the ninth highest rated player in the entire Portuguese top flight, according to Whoscored, and everybody above him is at least 25 years of age.

The hype, it would appear, is real, and from United's perspective, with their creaking, wheezing midfield unit and their desperate need for reinforcements, Neves does feel like exactly the kind of young, vibrant talent they should be pinning their hopes on. And pin their hopes they have, it would seem. Alongside O Jogo, fellow Portuguese outlet Correio da Manhã state that United are the 'most committed' suitor on the midfielder's trail, although they too are quick to reiterate that any contract extension effectively ‘closes the door’ on the prospect of a January transfer.

Nevertheless, United remain keen, and while it is a pursuit that will be put on the back burner for now, don't be surprised to see it resurface in windows to come. A little bit of patience could yield fantastic results for the Red Devils.