Ruben Neves, a target for Barcelona, is reportedly keen on staying put in the Premier League, handing Arsenal and Manchester United a boost in his chase.
According to a report by Daily Mail, Ruben Neves wants to stay in the Premier League if he leaves Wolverhampton Wanderers in the summer transfer window. The Portuguese midfielder, valued at £70 million by the Midlands club, is a target for Barcelona, Arsenal and Manchester United.
Ruben Neves has established himself as one of the best midfielders in the Premier League since joining Wolverhampton Wanderers from FC Porto in July 2017. While he spent his first season in England in the EFL Championship, the 25-year-old has steadily grown in stature since helping the Black Country outfit gain promotion to the Premier League.
To date, the Portuguese international has turned out 209 times for Wolverhampton Wanderers, chipping in with 24 goals and 12 assists in the process. Neves’s progress has not gone unnoticed, with some of the most high profile clubs in Europe, including Barcelona, Arsenal and Manchester United, keen on signing him.
The interest from Barcelona stems from the advancing years of Sergio Busquets. The Barcelona captain is approaching the final phase of his career and has started showing signs of age catching up with him. Neves is thus a viable target for Barcelona, with the 25-year-old reportedly harbouring dreams of joining the Blaugrana. But as per Daily, he is keen on remaining in the Premier League.
Such a development will hand Arsenal and Manchester United a boost in his pursuit. The Gunners could do with a player of Neves’s traits, considering Mikel Arteta does not have many quality options at his disposal in the midfield unit beyond Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka. Neves is thus an option worth considering for Arsenal.
As for Manchester United, Nemanja Matic and Paul Pogba’s impending departures will leave Erik ten Hag short of quality midfield options next season. And Neves is a viable target for Manchester United, with the incoming manager reportedly keen on bringing the Portuguese international to Old Trafford.
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But signing Neves will cost a bomb, with Wolves likely to demand around £70 million for him. Manchester United could afford to pay such a sum, but Arsenal might not. Barcelona would not have been able to shell out £70 million either, meaning a move was out of the question anyway.
