Manchester United have been told they must make Benfica teenager Joao Felix the most expensive player in British football history to sign him this summer, claims the London Evening Standard.
Felix has emerged as one of the most sought after prospects in Europe this season after helping Benfica win their fifth league title in six seasons.
United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants the club to focus on signing young players rather than marquee names and Felix features on his shortlist of transfer targets.
The Red Devils face stiff competition from neighbourhood rivals Manchester City but any side interested in signing the 19-year-old will have to make him one of the most expensive players of all-time.
Benfica have slapped an initial £150m asking price on Felix’s head, and while they are prepared to lower their valuation, they still want an enormous fee for the Portugal international.
United and City will therefore have to pay in excess of £100m to prise Felix away from Benfica and it’s unlikely either will entertain such a figure for someone who only has one season of top-flight football under his belt.
In fact, Felix only broke into the Benfica first-team on a consistent basis at the start of the year. Despite barely featuring in the first six months of the season, only three players scored more goals than Felix in Liga NOS this season (15).
