Liverpool want Ruben Neves and have allegedly put in a lot of work towards signing the Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder.
The Reds had to make a late move to bolster their midfield before the summer transfer deadline.
A host of injuries left Jurgen Klopp struggling for numbers and Liverpool decided to strike a late loan move for Juventus misfit Arthur Melo.
The Brazilian has been struck down with injuries too, somewhat ironically, and Liverpool will need to look elsewhere in 2023.
Liverpool want Ruben Neves
The main name suggested has been Jude Bellingham with the Borussia Dortmund star expected to go for big money next summer.
Yet with so many clubs keen, Liverpool need to have other options in mind and could look a little closer to home.
TEAMtalk suggest that Liverpool did ‘major work’ on Wolves star Ruben Neves whilst weighing up their late move for Arthur.
Liverpool will have known that a late deal for Neves just wasn’t going to happen so their work on him may have been geared towards 2023.
Neves is out of contract in 2024 and Wolves are now approaching the period of time where it may be appealing to sell before Neves leaves for nothing.
That’s the kind of market Liverpool will be in if they want to add another midfielder alongside Bellingham next summer.
The Portuguese midfielder has been a star for Wolves and his technical ability will appeal to Klopp with Neves more than capable of pinging cross-field passes and long-range thunderbolts.
Neves, 25, fits the age profile Liverpool usually like and a move to Anfield would see him reunite with Diogo Jota.
Joining Liverpool would also mean Neves joining forces with Klopp’s assistant Pep Lijnders again.
Lijnders coached Neves at Porto and told O Jogo in 2019 that players like him ‘always’ interest Liverpool.
Neves also paid Lijnders a major compliment, telling The Athletic earlier this year that the coach who helped him most technically was Lijnders at Porto.
Neves clearly has huge respect for Lijnders and credited him above others for developing the technical side of his game.
A move makes real sense for Liverpool, Neves and Lijnders and with Wolves facing up to Neves winding down his contract, the Reds’ work could pay off in 2023.
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