Arsenal and Barcelona are named as the suitors for Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Rúben Neves.
On Tuesday, Sport reported Xavi Hernández has already held talks with the 25-year-old to convince him make a switch to the Camp Nou this summer.
Another report from the same newspaper today states the La Liga side ‘surpasses Arsenal’ in the race for the Wolves player.
It’s claimed the Catalan club are ahead to land the midfielder, with Mikel Arteta’s side in ‘second place’.
The Gunners finished the 2021/22 season in the fifth spot, with their arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur finishing ahead of them in the fourth place.
Having been left at the gates of the Champions League, Sport state that Arsenal ‘want to hit the market to finally achieve their goal’, and while the Portugal international is their target, Barca are in the lead.
Neves has two years left on his contract at Wolves and wants to change clubs as he feels he is ready to make a big jump. The player has communicated the same to his agent, Jorge Mendes.
Bruno Lage’s side value their star around €120m.
However, this, plus Wolves having no need to part ways with the midfielder are the ‘main problem’ for Barcelona, and maybe even for Arsenal, especially at that price, to sign Neves this summer.
