The agent of reported Liverpool target Ruben Neves has told interested clubs that his client will be available this summer.
Neves has long been put forward as a potential candidate for Liverpool as they look to overhaul their midfield. And now, according to 90min, the Wolves man has made concrete steps to ending his six-year stay at Molineux.
They claim that Neves’ agent – Jorge Mendes – has ‘made it clear’ to potential suitors that the Portugal international can leave Wolves at the end of the season.
Liverpool are named as one of these suitors, alongside Newcastle United, Tottenham, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. It’s claimed that the Reds have ‘asked to be kept informed’ of Neves’ situation.
At the moment, that situation looks to be that the 26-year-old will have just a year left on his deal come the summer. 90min report that fresh terms are being prepared by Wolves, but at this stage it seems unlikely that Neves will sign an extension.
Neves ready to finally move up
Of all the midfielders linked with Liverpool right now, some will see Neves as perhaps the least exciting. After five years in the Premier League there’s little mystery left about the former Porto man.
Having faced him plenty of times over the years, he might feel a little too familiar to some supporters. There may also be a question as to why he’s played at Wolves for so long, with no top teams coming to sign him.
But the truth of that feels like Neves could have left Molineux years ago. He was a strange signing for them back in 2017. With top clubs circling him and Wolves in the Championship, few would have seen it coming.
Since then he’s gone on to become the player that many predicted he would be. That he’s been doing it in a middling Premier League club is a little bizarre, but he surely could have got himself a big move at any point.
Former manager Bruno Lage called him ‘special’ last year, while he’s had all sorts of other compliments besides. At twenty-six, he now looks completely ready to make the next step in his career.
As a slightly one-paced deep-lying midfielder, he might not be exactly what Liverpool need right now. But he’s certainly a dam sight better than what they currently have. If the Reds can get Neves for a decent price, we’d be more than happy with that.