Manchester United, Juventus and Liverpool have been offered hope in the pursuit of Joao Felix, with Benfica sporting director Rui Costa conceding that “certain players cannot be held back”.
The 19-year-old forward has emerged as one of the most sought-after talents in European football.
His exploits in his native Portugal have thrust him onto the transfer radar of sides in England, Italy and beyond.
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Felix’s current contract does include a €120 million (£103m/$136m) release clause, which could prove a sticking point to some in the pursuit of a player with limited experience, but it is considered to be only a matter of time before a big-money move is made.