Manchester City have triggered the €120m release clause of in-demand Benfica star Joao Felix, according to reports.
Diario AS cite a report in Desporto that the teenager would join the English champions on a five-year deal on a contract worth €5m per season.
Felix, 19, has risen to prominence for the Lisbon-based giants this season and netted 20 goals while registering 11 assists for the club, who regained the Portuguese top-flight.
A report in Marca last week claimed Madrid made an offer to Benfica of €80m for the player alongside allowing the player to remain on loan in Lisbon for another 12 months.
Atletico Madrid have been strongly linked to the teenager and reportedly view him as an ideal replacement for Antoine Griezmann – both player’s contracts contain a €120m release clause.
The player’s contract at the Lisbon-based giants run through until 2023 although previous reports have claimed Benfica are trying to move this up to €200m with a new deal.
However, his current clause is the same figure as Griezmann’s and it is claimed that the funds raised from the Frenchman’s sale will be directed towards his recruitment.
Felix has netted in two Lisbon derbies against Sporting CP this season and also scored against FC Porto in a key title clash in January.
That has led to the attack-minded midfielder being labelled as ‘the next Cristiano Ronaldo’ while Atletico Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Manchester United have also scouted the player.
The player is said to be versatile and can operate in a number of attacking positions, while he starred in the UEFA Youth League semi-finals in 2016-17 against Real Madrid.
