Premier League club will demand £45 million for Barcelona-linked midfielder – English sources

Wolverhampton Wanderers have set an asking price of £45 million (€50 million) for club captain and Barcelona target Ruben Neves heading into the summer transfer window.

This claim comes from The Telegraph, who report that Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui is willing to sanction the exit of the Portuguese midfielder at the end of the season.

Neves has been at the Molineux for almost six years now but has long harboured hopes of playing in the UEFA Champions League. And with his contract expiring in a little over a year, he seems to be on his way out this summer.

Barcelona have long been linked with a move for the 26-year-old, with his agent, Jorge Mendes, offering the midfielder’s services to the newly-crowned La Liga champions.

However, a move for the Portuguese international has been rejected by manager Xavi Hernandez three times already as the tactician does not see him as capable of playing as a pivot midfielder in his system.

Despite Xavi and the coaching staff not being totally convinced, a deal for Neves is understood to be preferred by club president Joan Laporta.

And now, the price tag for the midfielder has also emerged, with Wolves set to demand £45 million for their midfield mainstay. The Midlands club are reluctant to let Neves sign for any of their Premier League rivals, which would count as an advantage for Barça.

However, whether they are in a position to invest €50 million on the midfielder, especially when Xavi does not favour his transfer, remains the big question.

There have been talks of a possible swap deal involving Ansu Fati, but the forward is reluctant to leave Barcelona, making the operation unlikely.

With Sergio Busquets on his way out, Barcelona need to bring in a new pivot midfielder. Apart from Neves, the La Liga champions are also linked with Martin Zubimendi of Real Sociedad and Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat.