Liverpool 'steps up $129m Joao Neves pursuit' as Diogo Jota endorses transfer

Liverpool is reportedly 'stepping up' interest in Portugal wonderkid Joao Neves. Should a move materialize, one person who would seemingly be very satisfied is Diogo Jota.

The Liverpool striker and Neves are currently away at Euro 2024 together, with Portugal harboring high hopes of going a long way in the tournament. But transfer news continues to come thick and fast, and the 19-year-old is supposedly being coveted as the first major signing of the Arne Slot era.

It would certainly be a significant deal, with Correio da Manha (via Paisley Gates) suggesting that Benfica would not be minded to listen to offers below the $129m (£101m/€120m) release clause in the midfielder's contract. But Neves could fill a Fabinho gap that Jurgen Klopp never plugged, and Jota is convinced he can go right to the top.

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Liverpool may well be looking to strengthen in midfield again, despite having signed four players in the middle of the park last summer. Of the additions, only Wataru Endo was a specialist number six, and the Japan captain was something of a stopgap option after a big bid for Moises Caicedo failed.

Should Liverpool move for Neves, it would be committing a similar sum to the one it offered Brighton. But at least with a release clause in play, Euro 2024 cannot inflate his value further, with Jota tipping his teammate to impress at the tournament.

"Joao Neves has the quality and the mindset to go really far," he told Goal. He had been asked to name one young player everyone should watch out for in Germany.

The report from Portugal suggests that Liverpool is 'stepping up' its pursuit. It has 'defined' Neves as a priority signing, and could even put a proposal forward within the next few days.

Liverpool.com says: It was one thing when Liverpool launched such an out-of-character mega bid for Caicedo, but he did at least boast some Premier League experience. Committing this kind of money to Neves, who has only ever played for Benfica, would be a massive gamble.

Then again, Liverpool parted with a big sum to sign Darwin Nunez from the same club. And with the scarcity of elite players in Neves' position, perhaps we can expect to see hugely inflated fees as teams roll the dice on potential. Jota certainly thinks that his international colleague has bucket-loads of that.