Borussia Dortmund show interest in Benfica’s Joao Neves
Borussia Dortmund have been allegedly observing Benfica midfielder Joao Neves as a potential transfer target.
As the current Bundesliga season continues to press on, Borussia Dortmund are still looking to see where they can improve their squad in the upcoming transfer windows. The club still seems to be on the alert for additional midfielders, with Benfica’s Joao Neves coming to the fore as a possible target for the German club.
According to reports, Dortmund are among a host of clubs that have been watching the talented player, who plays primarily as a defensive midfielder for the Portuguese side. His stats speak for themselves, with the player having performed brilliantly since breaking through into Benfica’s first team. He excels in terms of tackles (3.13), blocks (2.06) and aerial duels won (2.31) per 90 when compared to players of a similar mold in Europe’s top five leagues. His passes attempted (79.78) and pass success percentage (88.2%) also highlight his general game-involvement, showing that much of what Benfica does on the pitch goes through him at some stage. Neves has completed at 7.42 progressive passes per 90 as well, showing that he is also integral for his club in terms of moving play towards the opposition goal.
The links between Dortmund and Neves come at an interesting time for the club as current captain Emre Can has found himself flittering in and out of the starting 11, with Salih Ozcan getting the nod from Edin Terzic after a slew of strong showings of late. This, coupled with the overall disjointed nature of Dortmund’s midfield this season means that additional reinforcements may be necessary, especially if Can’s form does not take a turn for the better.
As for feasibility, Dortmund would face competition from the likes of Juventus, Manchester City, and Manchester United for his signature. In addition to this, Neves has a contract until 2028, putting Benfica in the drivers seat when it comes to the terms of Neves departure.
Dortmund would likely have to generate funds from the sales of players to be able to afford any sort of move for Neves. They would also have to show the player a clear project and plan that would ensure he would play an important role for a club competing for silverware.
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The player would need to be convinced that his development wouldl flourish in Dortmund in a way that would unfeasible at the other aforementioned clubs. While it’s unlikely for a move to materialize at this time, he is certainly the profile of player the club should target, and a move could prove mutually beneficial in the long run.