Arsenal are reportedly prepared to splash the cash on Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves, as Mikel Arteta eyes a massive summer overhaul.
After a quiet January transfer window, Arsenal are ready to break the bank in the summer in an attempt to land their top targets. According to The Sun, the Londoners have identified three players as desired targets for the next window, a list that includes Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder, Ruben Neves.
The Portuguese international was linked with an exit from Molineux even in January, amid interest from Premier League giants Arsenal and Manchester United. However, Wolves had no intention of offloading their star man, and as a result, they had reportedly slapped a £40 million price tag on the player.
Part of the Wolves setup since 2017, Neves’s current contract with the club runs until 2024. During his time at Molineux, the midfielder has featured in almost 200 competitive matches for the club, playing a vital role in their rapid rise to prominence under Nuno Espirito Santo.
The 24-year-old has also emerged as one of the most reliable defensive midfielders in the Premier League, attracting the interest of several top clubs across Europe in the process.
Arsenal have been keeping an eye on Neves for a long time, with coach Mikel Arteta keen on reinforcing his options in the middle of the park. Following the January exit of Ainsley Maitland-Niles, the Spaniard only has three reliable options in midfield, one of whom only joined the club last summer.
The Gunners were expected to go after a new midfielder in the January transfer window. However, they ended up signing only one player in the form of MLS defender Auston Trusty, who was sent back on loan to Colorado Rapids. As such, owner Stan Kroenke is prepared to show his faith in Arteta by breaking the bank in the summer transfer window.
Ruben Neves, to that end, has emerged as one of the top targets, with the club prepared to meet his £45 million price tag. The Portuguese international, though, is not the only option for the Gunners as they have reportedly joined the race to sign Aurelien Tchouameni as well.
Moreover, Arsenal are set to face stiff competition in the pursuit of Neves. As iterated earlier, Manchester United were linked with a midfielder in January, and it won’t be surprising to see fellow London clubs Chelsea and Tottenham joining the race to sign the Wolves midfielder in a potential £45 million deal in the summer.
