Spanish giants Barcelona have identified a key member of the midfield ranks at Wolverhampton Wanderers as a prime target ahead of next season, according to reports.
The player in question? Ruben Neves.
Portuguese international Neves, as expected, has continued to play a central role in England’s midlands across the early weeks of the new campaign.
Across Wolves’ Premier League fixtures to date, the 25-year-old has featured from the off in all seven, impressing en route to seeing out the full 90 minutes on each occasion, too.
And such form, it would appear, has only served to reinforce the notion that Neves represents the ideal addition to the engine room setup of Xavi Hernandez’s aforementioned Barcelona.
According to Diario Sport, the powers that be at the Camp Nou have begun seeking out a long-term replacement for Sergio Busquets, to man the base of the club’s midfield.
And Neves, long hailed for abilities in controlling tempo, has allegedly been identified as Xavi and co’s first-choice target.
Ruben Neves is Barcelona’s top priority to reinforce their midfield.
— @sport pic.twitter.com/LOQnrrr9Ub
— Barça Universal (@BarcaUniversal) September 30, 2022
Elsewhere, it has too been claimed that the transfer team in Catalunya have gone as far as to open negotiations with the former Porto prodigy, in a bid to iron out the potential financial terms of a contract with the club.
Barcelona are in talks with Ruben Neves.
— @Ekremkonur pic.twitter.com/oSC9b8zlMM
— Barça Universal (@BarcaUniversal) September 30, 2022
Crystal Palace vs Chelsea betting tips: Premier League preview, predictions & odds
Liverpool vs Brighton betting tips: Premier League preview, predictions & odds