La Liga heavyweights Barcelona are considering 25-year-old Portuguese international Ruben Neves as a potential successor for Sergio Busquets.
According to a report by Spanish publication MARCA, Ruben Neves is the subject of interest from Barcelona over a possible move in the 2023 summer transfer window. The Blaugrana will launch the offensive for the 25-year-old Portuguese international if Sergio Busquets leaves next year.
Ruben Neves has been a revelation since joining Wolverhampton Wanderers from FC Porto over half a decade ago. And since guiding Wolves to the Premier League in his first season in England, the player has established himself as one of the best midfielders in the top flight in the last few campaigns.
The 25-year-old has turned out over 200 times for the Black Country outfit thus far, chipping in with 25 goals and 12 assists. And the Portuguese international’s exploits for Wolves have not gone unnoticed, with several high-profile clubs across Europe, including Barcelona, setting their sights on him.
Sergio Busquets is well into his thirties and approaching the end of his glittering career. And while he has been solid for the most part since Xavi Hernandez assumed charge of Barcelona, he is not a spring chicken anymore and will see his game-time get reduced significantly as the campaign wears on.
Barcelona will thus need to lay down a succession plan for Busquets, with MARCA reporting they have identified two candidates to replace the veteran Spanish midfielder. One of those options is Ruben Neves, with the Portuguese international featuring on Barcelona’s radar for months.
A move for the 25-year-old did not materialise this past summer, but recent reports had claimed that Barcelona might consider pursuing him in January. However, a possible move in the 2023 summer transfer window looks likely, with Wolverhampton Wanderers unlikely to sell their captain and a pivotal player midway through the season.
Some reports have suggested that Neves might already be an option for next summer for the Blaugrana. But Barcelona will also be looking at Martin Zubimendi as an alternative to the 25-year-old Portuguese international as the search for a successor for Sergio Busquets continues heading into the 2023 summer transfer window.
