MANCHESTER CITY and Manchester United have fallen behind in the race to sign Benfica wonderkid Joao Felix.
The Premier League sides have been tracking the attacker midfielder all season but have not made any approach to the Portuguese club about his availability.
EPA
United want to add a playmaker to their ranks ahead of a title challenge next term.
City are looking for a long-term successor to David Silva with club director of football Txiki Bergiristain attending Benfica’s Europa League win over Dinamo Zagreb last month.
Felix,19, has been outstanding this season chipping in with 10 goals as the Aguias top the league on goal difference ahead of Porto.
SunSport have been told have been scouting Felix for months, but their hesitancy to make a serious move has allowed Real Madrid and Juventus to jump in as the front-runners for his signature.
The Spanish giants with Zinedine Zidane back at the helm are planning to spend this summer after a disastrous season that saw them humbled in the Champions League by Ajax and trail Barcelona by 12 points in La Liga
Juve sporting director Fabio Paratici has reportedly met with the Portuguese club’s president Luis Filipe Vieira and super-agent Jorge Mendes who represents Felix.
However, any club who wants the youngster who is contracted until 2023 may have to fork out more than his current £105million release clause.
SunSport have been told Benfica are looking to offer Felix a new deal with a new release clause of £130m.
