Zenit hope to convince Neres to join club

Zenit St. Petersburg is reportedly set to make a big push for Benfica winger David Neres hoping to convince the 26 year old to leave the Lisbon club and make the move to Russia. Zenit are hoping that Neres current role of substitute for Benfica can play a part in Neres agreeing to the move.

Neres joined Benfica last summer as he departed Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk for €15.3M and signed a five year contract at the time with a buy out clause of €100M. Benfica are reluctant to let the talented winger go but Zenit are determined to offer Neres a salary he may not be able to refuse and are said to be ready to offer Benfica €40M+ for his services.

Benfica will hope that Russia's current situation with Ukraine which was part of the reason Neres departed last summer and the countries sanctions that see no club compete in UEFA competitions is enough of a deterrent to keep Neres in Lisbon.

With the uncertain futures next summer of Angel di Maria and Rafa Silva, Benfica can not afford to lose the skilled winger.