Ruben Neves could become the Premier League’s most expensive player
Wolverhampton Wanderers have put a hefty price tag on their star midfielder Ruben Neves.
According to a report in The Times, Wolves value the Portugal international at £110 million amid interest from several clubs, including league champions Manchester City.
Neves would become the most expensive player in Premier League history should a club match that valuation and Wolves accept the bid. It would eclipse the £93m Manchester United paid Juventus for Paul Pogba in 2016.
The 21-year-old has impressed since joining Wolves from Porto for £15.8 million ahead of the 2017/18 season.
He was the best player in the Championship as the club secured promotion to the top-flight in comfortable fashion, and has made an impressive start to life in the Premier League. Neves has been central to Wolves’ success so far this campaign.
The report claims that City consider him to be a potential long-term replacement for Fernandinho and someone who can slot into a deep-lying midfield position in Pep Guardiola’s team.
On Saturday at Old Trafford, Neves showed that the red side of Manchester could also possibly do with him in their side. Neves played a crucial role in Wolves’ goal in the 1-1 draw with United.
Pogba collected a pass in the centre-circle. Rather than playing a simple pass to one of his teammates who were open to receive the ball, the French midfielder tried an elaborate, and completely unnecessary, turn which spectacularly backfired.
Neves was wise to Pogba’s nonsense. He landed an inch-perfect challenge to win the ball and set his team away on a counter-attack which was finished off by Joao Moutinho.
Neves has the potential to become the complete midfielder. City missed out on their two main midfield transfer targets in the summer, as Fred joined United and Jorginho opted for Chelsea.
In comparison to the talent they have in other positions, Guardiola’s side appear to be somewhat short in the deep-lying midfield position. It is easy to imagine Neves slotting straight into the team, but the Portuguese star won’t be cheap.
