La Liga giants Barcelona are in ‘advanced’ talks to sign Ruben Neves from Premier League strugglers Wolves with a Molineux departure possible in the January transfer window, according to Spanish publication Sport.
With Sunday’s 4-0 thumping at home to Leicester City still more than fresh in the memory, this is hardly the news Wolverhampton Wanderers fans would have wanted to wake up to this morning.
Neves, one of the longest-serving and most-popular members of Steve Davis’ squad, is one of the very few Wolves players who has performed somewhere near to his potential during a miserable 2022/23 so far.
But with less than two years left on his contract – and with Neves looking to take the next step in his development – a Wolves side mired in the Premier League’s relegation zone hardly find themselves in a position of strength, even if selling one of their star players in January is obviously something the Black Country outfit would rather avoid.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Neves wants to leave. What’s more, the Portugal international has already spoken openly about his interest in a move to the Camp Nou.
Is Ruben Neves leaving Wolves for Barcelona in January transfer window?
“Who wouldn’t want to play at Barcelona?” Neves tells Sport. “I think that’s a question any footballer would ask himself. It’s one of the biggest clubs in the world. Of course, it’s always a privilege for me to be linked with clubs of this calibre.”
Sport say that talks with Barcelona are now at an ‘advanced’ stage. Neves could join permanently – albeit for less than the £50 million Wolves were asking for a couple of months ago – or on a temporary basis; Barca could look to strike a loan-to-buy deal for the ex-Porto captain.
Barcelona have not totally settled on Neves just yet, however. Sport add that the likes of Jorginho and N’Golo Kante – older but more affordable options – are also being considered.
But with relegation a very real possibility for the first time since their return to the top-flight under Nuno Espirito Santo, this is a developing story Wolves really could have done without.
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