Wolves Want £45 Million For Barcelona Target Ruben Neves
Wolverhampton Wanderers want £45 million for Portuguese midfielder Ruben Neves, reports the Telegraph.
Barcelona want the club’s captain this summer, and there have been talks of a potential swap deal.
The new La Liga champions could also look to get Neves through a player plus cash proposal, but Wolves want just cash.
The 26-year-old is out of contract in 2024 and is unlikely to sign an extension.
He has been with Wolves since 2017 when he joined from Porto.
Neves helped the Molineux Stadium club seal Premier League promotion after his debut season and has since made 250 appearances.
He wants to play Champions League football and is keen to leave Wolves after six years to fulfil the dream.
However, whether Barca, or any club, are ready to splash £45m on a player in the final 12 months of his contract remains to be seen.
Wolves do not want to lose one of their most-priced assets for free and are looking to sell him this summer.
They also do not want to sell him to a Premier League rival, which could affect their chances of getting top dollar for him.
Wolves will need to reduce their asking price as they are unlikely to get a willing buyer.
Neves has bagged six goals and one assist in 33 league games this term.
He has scored 30 goals for the club since his arrival and will leave as a legend.
However, he is not worth £45m and cash-strapped Barca cannot afford him.
The Spanish club need to balance the books before signing players, and bringing Lionel Messi back remains top of their priorities.