Ruben Neves has been heavily linked with a summer move to FC Barcelona as a replacement for Sergio Busquets. While Barca president Joan Laporta and the board are said to be pushing for the signing of the Wolves midfielder because he is a financially viable acquisition, Xavi Hernandez and his coaching staff do not think he is a good fit.
Now, according to Joaquim Piera of SPORT, the player is one step closer to joining Barcelona in the upcoming summer transfer window, as Wolves will soon announce the arrival of 21-year-old Brazilian Joao Gomes.
The midfielder, who was also wanted by Barcelona and Real Madrid is expected to join the Premier League club from Flamengo in a 18.7 million euros deal. According to the report, Jorge Mendes, Neves’ agent, was instrumental in bringing Gomes to Wolves. This move puts Neves one step closer to joining Barcelona in the summer.
At the end of the season, the 25-year-old Portuguese international will enter the final year of his contract. And a move to Barcelona could happen this summer, as the club sees him as a more affordable option than Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi.
The Spaniard has a 60 million release clause, and Sociedad has no plans to offer any concessions. As a result, Laporta and the board prefer Neves, as the club president has a good relationship with the midfielder’s agent, Mendes.
It has recently been reported on several occasions that the transfer of Neves to Barcelona is nearing completion. However, Xavi and his staff are said to be sceptical of the midfielder’s ability to play as a pivot. Earlier, Barcelona Laporta hinted that Xavi could have the final say on who the club signs to replace Sergio Busquets.
“Neves is a great player, but this is part of private conversations. Busquets will not be eternal and there are internal discussions to find him a substitute with guarantees. Frenkie de Jong can play in this position, but he won’t do with a single player. Xavi will end up deciding this,”
Laporta said in an interview with SPORT earlier in January.
This season, the 24-year-old has four goals in 25 appearances for Wolves across all competitions.
