Well, it just wouldn’t be a transfer window unless Ruben Neves to Liverpool was getting spoken about.
The Reds have been often linked with signing the Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder since he arrived in English football.
Virtually every summer transfer window since 2018 there’s at least one moment where Ruben Neves to Liverpool crops up as a possibility, with 90 Min claiming on Friday that he’s a target again.
On this occasion, however, it has a lot more legs.
That’s because Jurgen Klopp is officially in the market for a new midfielder due to an injury crisis at Kirkby, with Naby Keita, Thiago, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Curtis Jones all sidelined at the moment.
Liverpool supporters would absolutely love to see a new midfielder come in, but one of Klopp’s staff members would be delighted if that player was Neves.
According to former Reds coach Michael Beale, Pep Lijnders has been raving about the Portugal international for quite a number of years.
Here’s what Beale told The Echo about Neves – whom he compared to Cesc Fabregas – three-and-a-half years ago.
He said: “Ruben Neves passing has been superb today. Taking over from Fabregas as the midfielder in the PL that looks for his forwards at every opportunity. Pepijn Lijnders has been telling me about him for 4-5yrs after working with him at Porto. He wasn’t wrong!! He is a top player!”
Lijnders is Klopp’s trusted assistant at Anfield and if the Dutchman is a firm believer in Neves then maybe, just maybe, the manager will listen.
Then again, the German boss is helpless unless Fenway Sports Group supply him with the sort of money it would take to convince Wolves to sell.
HITC Sport wrote earlier that Arsenal wouldn’t be able to sign Pedro Neto if Neves went to Liverpool, but the reverse is also true and if he’s a serious target, the Anfield outfit need to hurry up.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
