Ruben Neves looks unlikely to leave Wolves in the January transfer window, journalist Ben Jacobs has claimed.
What’s the word?
The Portugal international is Wolves’ club captain, and with his side fighting a relegation battle, it would be a devastating blow to lose him midway through the season.
The 25-year-old has been linked with a number of Premier League clubs, but whilst a summer move may be on the cards, a January move is not, with the midfielder set to stay for the rest of the campaign.
Can Wolves stay up this season?
Yes – they’ll survive
No – they’re going down
Speaking on NUFC Matters, Jacobs claimed that Neves would not leave despite rumours about Newcastle making a move.
He said: “Wolves have turned their form and season around under Julen Lopetegui. Neves is their captain, Wolves didn’t allow him to leave towards the back end of the summer – and the same, by the way, for Joao Moutinho as well.
“So long before form was turned around, because Wolves had a dreadful end to last season and a poor start to this season, the club still stood very firm that they wanted to keep hold of their best players, and Wolves, at the moment, don’t want to be seen as a selling club.
“So I think that there’s very real substance to Neves moving somewhere in the summer, especially if he can get Champions League football. We know that Arsenal have looked, we know that Liverpool have got a relatively concrete interest as well, but again, it’s more forward planning.
“I would put Neves in the category of Jude Bellingham; Alexis McAllister; possibly, not definitely, but in likelihood, Moises Caicedo as well, in the sense that these are players you’ve got to work on now, but it becomes quite unlikely you’re going to get them now.”
A summer farewell
The summer window seems like the right opportunity for Wolves to part ways with their skipper and gain a big fee for him whilst his value is high.
And it appears he may not be the only one, with Liverpool thought to be after summer signing Matheus Nunes ahead of the summer window,
Although losing him would be a big blow, given the interest in him, as well as the fact that his contract expires in 2024, it would be the final chance for Wolves to get a large enough fee to help replace him adequately.
The central midfielder has scored 28 times in 236 games since joining from FC Porto in 2017 and looks destined to join a club competing in Europe nearer the top end of the table, but the Old Gold’s stance is more than understandable considering the current threat to their Premier League status.
