Clinton Morrison sung the praises of Ruben Neves on Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday (02/04, 14:43) and why Wolves will miss the reported Arsenal transfer target during his injury.
Neves sustained a knee injury during the Molineux natives’ defeat to Leeds United before the March international break. The west Midlands side expect he will be out of action until May. But they hold some doubts over him facing Chelsea in their antepenultimate fixture.
His issue is not considered a complicated injury after visiting a specialist in Portugal during the break in league games. But Neves will likely miss at least five matches, as Wolves try to claim a UEFA berth. He had started 26 of the 28 games available to him so far this season.
Neves’ performances over the 25-year-old’s Premier League appearances with Wolves had drawn transfer interest from Arsenal. The Sun claim Mikel Arteta believes the Portugal star can help take the Emirates Stadium side to another level, and has him high on his shortlist.
Wolves are in talks with the midfielder over a new contract with his existing terms expiring in 2024. They are loath to let the £50k-a-week ace run down his current deal, though. So, Wolves will sell Neves in the summer window for £50m without agreeing to fresh terms.
Sky pundit hails Ruben Neves as ‘one of the best’ as Arsenal target Wolves star
Arsenal could also face competition from Manchester United, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain for Neves’ transfer from Wolves this summer. The Sun add that the trio of clubs are also monitoring the 26-cap star, who has four goals and two assist this league season.
Add the high fee needed, and Gunners chiefs may baulk at signing one of Arteta’s leading summer targets. But Morrison is confident Neves is one of the Premier League’s best in his position, and one Wolves will sorely miss during the Arsenal transfer target’s injury issues.
“They will miss Neves,” Morrison said. “Neves, for me, is one of the best midfielders in the Premier League, everything goes through him.
“Him and Joao Moutinho, the partnership is good, [Leander] Dendoncker’s a totally different player. He’s more of a player that just sits, wants to arrive late and can get a goal, whereas Neves dictates the way Wolves want to play.
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