Wolves fans should be concerned by potential £17.5m Ruben Neves deal; big money should be invested elsewhere

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Wolves are closing in on Porto midfielder Ruben Neves, in one of the most bizarre transfers this summer.

Wolves are close to signing Porto starlet Ruben Neves, in a surprise transfer said to be worth £17.5 million, according to the Sun.

Neves is one of Portugal’s most highly rated youngsters but he endured a tough spell last season. Now he is set for a reunion with Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo, who was Porto manager before being sacked in May.

The 20-year-old has been previously linked with Premier League giants Chelsea and Liverpool (Sun). However, Neves is on the verge of swapping Champions League football for the rigours of the Championship.

Wolves will be looking to put last season’s disappointment behind them and vastly improve on the 15th place finish they secured.

Their supporters will be keen to hoping that their side will go back to battling at the right end of the Championship table and at least be in contention for a play-off place.

Whilst the potential signing of Neves will be seen as a statement of intent by many, Wolves fans would be forgiven for having reservations about this deal.

The reported £17.5 million is a significant amount for the vast majority of the clubs, even more so for a team that was recently in the midst of a Championship relegation battle.

In recent years, it has not been unusual for clubs in England’s second tier to invest heavily in their squads. However, it is less usual for such large amounts to be sent on one player, especially for one with no previous experience of playing in England.

If Wolves are hoping to make a promotion push this upcoming season then major investment is needed, but this needs to be spread across a number of signings.

Wolves are also well stocked in the central midfield department. With the likes of David Edwards, Conor Coady and Romain Saiss already at the club, there are other areas of the pitch that should take priority.

It is not clear whether the club will invest as heavily on other targets, but high profile, big money signings such as Neves will bring a high risk. Wolves can ill afford to have a repeat showing of last campaign, especially if the Neves deal does go through.