25-year-old Premier League midfielder not the priority transfer target for Barcelona – report

FC Barcelona are currently in a difficult spot right now, fuelled by the recent defeat to Bayern Munich that came after their elimination from the UEFA Champions League group stages for the second consecutive season.

With plenty left to rebuild, as far as their squad is concerned, Barcelona have already kickstarted their preparations for the upcoming January transfer window, as they look to shore up the overall quality of the team.

One of the club’s priorities is to sign a new defensive midfielder. This is because Sergio Busquets, one of the pillars of the Barcelona midfield, has struggled to perform consistently and has let the team down on a few occasions.

This has led to Barcelona scouring the market for a number six. Ruben Neves, for one, has been reported as one of their top targets for next season. Recent reports even indicated that the Blaugrana had agreed a fee with Wolves and had a salary agreement with the 25-year-old’s camp.

However, Javi Miguel of AS has refuted such claims, suggesting that Barcelona are not considering Neves a priority at the moment. It appears the club are looking at other, possibly cheaper options in their quest to shore up the defensive midfield slot.

Furthermore, some reports also suggested that the Barça coaching staff was not entirely convinced about the 25-year-old’s ability to fulfil the requirements needed for the pivot position in the midfield department.

Currently plying his trade for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Neves was linked with a move to Barcelona in the summer. But a move did not materialise as Wolves held out for a fortune.

However, with the midfielder’s contract at Molineux expiring in 2024, Wolves are facing immense pressure to offload him in the near future. While Barcelona are listed among the clubs interested in his services, the club are not considering him as a top target for now.

It could see the Catalans looking at other options in the market, with the likes of Ibrahim Sangare (PSV Eindhoven), Edson Alvarez (AFC Ajax) among the names being linked.