Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Rúben Neves has emerged as one of the midfield candidates for Barcelona this summer.
At the weekend, reports coming out of Portugal stated the Premier League side are targeting Sporting’s João Palhinha as a replacement.
The former Porto man has two years left on his contract at Wolves the La Liga side are going through financial difficulties.
Xavi Hernández is also well aware of the club’s economic conditions and his contribution can be key to convince players. This in return could help Barca lower the overall cost of the deal, which would have been difficult otherwise.
That’s according to a ‘confidential’ report from Sport, who state the Catalan club’s coach has made the effort to talk to Barca’s priority targets, irrespective of whether or not they would join them this summer. 
It’s claimed that Xavi ‘contacted’ the Portugal international and has held talks with the Wolves man, who could compete with Sergio Busquets in the middle of the pitch.
Neves is ‘enthusiastic’ about the Barca project and is also aware of what Xavi wants from him, if he were to make a switch to the Camp Nou.
Barcelona had other options for midfield, but the Wolves star has ended up being the chosen target since his signing is the ‘most viable operation’ for the Blaugrana.
