La Liga heavyweights Barcelona are reportedly a step closer to signing Ruben Neves from Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers.
According to a report by Spanish outlet SPORT, Ruben Neves is edging closer to joining Barcelona in the summer transfer window. Xavi Hernandez has given the green light to pursue the 25-year-old midfielder. And a part-exchange deal with Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers might be on the cards.
Ruben Neves has been one of the best midfielders plying their trade in England since joining Wolverhampton Wanderers from FC Porto in July 2017. After spending the first years in the EFL Championship, the Portuguese international has helped make the Black Country Outfit a Premier League mainstay.
The 25-year-old has turned out 233 times thus far for Wolverhampton Wanderers, chipping in with 28 goals and 12 assists. But Neves has entered the final 18 months of his contract with the Midlands club. And such a situation has alerted Barcelona to a possible cut-price deal this year.
Barcelona will need to bring in a successor to Sergio Busquets in the coming months. While Xavi Hernandez wants the veteran midfielder to stay, the former Spanish international is in the twilight of his career. In addition, Busquets himself is considering leaving Barcelona in the summer transfer window.
Either way, the Blaugrana will need to ensure a smooth succession from Busquets to his replacement. And Neves has emerged as a viable target for Barcelona. But recent reports had painted a contrasting picture of the links between the Catalan outfit and the 25-year-old Portuguese international.
While some had suggested that Barcelona had been close to securing an agreement, others claimed that they were ruling out a move. But Xavi has reportedly given the green light to pursue Neves. And the Premier League outfit might secure a player in a part-exchange deal for the 25-year-old midfielder.
According to the report, Wolverhampton Wanderers want either Franck Kessie or Nico Gonzalez. And it will be interesting to see if Barcelona will agree to either player’s departure in the deal to sign Neves. But it goes without saying that such a package will help the Catalan giants during their financial distress.
