Manchester United, Arsenal and Newcastle United have all made some kind of contact to sign Ruben Neves, reports Friday’s edition of Catalan newspaper Sport.
Inevitably, the report, which starts on the front page and also covers pages two and three, concentrates on Barcelona interest but doesn’t have an awful lot of concrete or new information.
Neves has been linked to Manchester United since his days with FC Porto, and with Erik ten Hag needing additions in midfield, the claims are natural. Arsenal have been more strongly linked with other targets, and Newcastle United are being thrown into the ring at any opportunity, given the finances on offer to Eddie Howe.
If all that is put to the side, and we concentrate on Barcelona, Sport’s front page says 3X1 and suggests Òscar Mingueza, Riqui Puig and Nico González could all be sent to Wolves in exchange for Neves.
It’s not made clear if this is plus cash, and what figure that would be. Regardless, it is made clear that this part of the story is just all plucked from baseless rumours and suggestions flying around, and isn’t, in any way, and despite the front page basis, Sport’s own information.
The newspaper goes on to say Wolves ‘want to close a record transfer’, and have ‘demanded’ €50m for Neves. Barcelona ‘don’t even remotely’ plan to reach that figure, and all the usual Catalan arrogance flows effortlessly.
For Wolves, none of this means anything until Barca make an actual offer. Bruno Lage’s side, should they have any intention of parting ways with Neves, would likely be better encouraging interest from other clubs, so that Barcelona are aware they can’t use their own cast-offs and a pocket full of change.
Even if Neves then ends up at the Camp Nou, rather than Manchester United, Arsenal or Newcastle United, it would likely be for a better price.
