Neves ‘makes up mind’ about Wolves future as Arsenal and Liverpool learn of £25m ‘price drop’
Ruben Neves has reportedly ‘made up his mind’ that he is ‘ready to quit’ Wolves when the summer transfer window opens later this year.
The Premier League club pulled off a major coup when they signed Neves from Porto in 2017 when they were still in the Championship.
The Portugal international has played just short of 250 times for Wolves over the past six seasons and his form has fuelled talk that he could move to one of the Big Six clubs in the Premier League.
Earlier this month, it was reported that Arsenal, Manchester United and Newcastle United are all monitoring his situation.
Neves is out of contract in 2024 so Wolves may have to sell him this summer if he decides that he does not want to extend his current deal.
Football Insider are reporting that Neves has already reached a verdict. He is ‘ready to quit even if the Midlands club avoid relegation to the Championship’.
An exit is becoming ‘more and more likely’ as Neves reportedly ‘wants a new challenge at the highest level possible’.
The report does not mention who could sign Neves. But Ben Jacobs is suggested that Arsenal were ‘interested’ last summer, while Liverpool have ‘certainly tracked’ the centre-midfielder.
Jacobs notes that Neves was ‘valued at over £75m’ last year but Wolves’ asking price has since ‘dropped’ to around £50m.
‘Wolves showed last summer they were able to hang on to Ruben Neves despite interest from Arsenal. But this summer things will be different. A bit like West Ham with Declan Rice, Wolves are pretty resigned to losing Neves. They know, with his contract expiring in 2024, selling at the end of the season is the only way to command a healthy fee,’ Jacobs wrote for Caught Offside.
‘Liverpool have certainly tracked Neves, but keep an eye on Matheus Nunes. He’s the one Liverpool still really like from Wolves.
‘Barcelona have also considered Neves, but it’s not a deal (financially speaking) they can pull off right now. Manchester United and Newcastle are looking for a player with a profile like Neves.
‘A lot of attention will be on Rice, with Arsenal and Chelsea pushing, but Neves will be highly-sought after as well and is available cheaper than the West Ham talisman (perhaps even around half his price). That’s the silver-lining for Wolves. They may lose the Portuguese midfielder but be able to drive up the price a little due to a high volume of suitors.
‘Let’s not forget last summer Neves was being valued at over £75m. His price has dropped due to the contract winding down, but Wolves would still ideally want closer to £50m than £40m.’