Barcelona will reportedly look to sign 25-year-old Portuguese international Ruben Neves in 2023 instead of pushing for a move this summer.
According to a report by Spanish publication SPORT, Barcelona will not pursue the move to sign Ruben Neves in the ongoing summer transfer window. The Catalan giants have deferred the plan to secure the services of the 25-year-old Portuguese international to 2023.
Ruben Neves has justified his decision to join an EFL Championship side half a decade ago by taking Wolverhampton Wanderers to the Premier League within a year. And Wolves have since been a mainstay in the top-flight, with Neves establishing himself as one of the best midfielders in Europe.
The Portuguese international has made 212 appearances for Wolves thus far, chipping in with 24 goals and 12 assists. And Neves’s exploits in the last five years have captured the attention of some of the most high-profile clubs in Europe, with Barcelona among the suitors for the 25-year-old.
The interest from Barcelona stems from the advancing years of Sergio Busquets, with the veteran Spanish international approaching the twilight of his illustrious career. And with Frenkie de Jong on the cusp of departing from Camp Nou to join Manchester United, Barcelona will need to identify a solution for the issues in midfield.
While the Blaugrana will target Bernardo Silva as the long-term replacement for de Jong, they must also to lay down a succession plan for Busquets. Neves has thus emerged as the priority target for Barcelona, who seemed to be set to launch the offensive for the 25-year-old in the ongoing summer transfer window.
But with Wolves demanding a fortune to part ways with Neves, Barcelona and the other suitors have been priced out of a move this summer. The Catalan giants have decided to defer the operation to next year when the Portuguese international will have a year left on his deal with Wolverhampton Wanderers.
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So Xavi Hernandez will have to make do with Sergio Busquets as his primary holding midfielder in the 2022/23 season, with Nico Gonzalez being his backup. It will be interesting to see if Barcelona will push for Neves next year or set sights on alternatives.
There is of course a risk with this strategy.
Neves could have a stellar year and his price could rocket even higher and what would Barca do then?
Busquets will be retired/moved on and they may not have a replacement.in mind or another club (oil rich?) could come in and steal him away?