Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves is again being linked with Barcelona.
According to new reports in Spain, Jorge Mendes has now negotiated a salary agreement.
Before this claim, it had been suggested that Barca could move for Neves as early as January.
Supposedly, Sergio Busquets has not been in the best form of late, and Barca would like to act quickly before his leaves the club next year.
Neves is now their number one transfer target.
That is understandable. The star has taken his game to a new level since the summer of 2021, and he is undoubtedly now one of the Premier League’s finest deep-lying playmakers.
He would make a great replacement for Busquets in the long-term.
Neves recently talked up Barcelona publicly, stating that most players would like to play at the Camp Nou.
It does seem like it’s going to be a question of when, and not if, Neves joins them.
But Wolves are in a very concerning predicament right now.
What absolutely cannot happen is that he is let go in the next transfer window. Especially on loan, like how Adama Traore was allowed in January 2022.
Sanctioning such a move would be massive error, and relegation would become a major possibility.
Wolves must keep Ruben Neves until the end of the season, as Barcelona are linked with January move
Wolves were a soft touch when it came to the Conor Coady deal, and the same cannot happen here with Neves.
Yes he has been very loyal. But Wolves’ Premier League status is at serious risk.
Allowing Neves to depart in the next window is a decision that has the potential to send Wolves to the Championship.
Wolves must keep hold of their talisman and if it means his value depleting then so be it. There is much more value in him staying and playing the second half of the campaign.
Neves is obviously a quality player. But he is also one of very few leaders now in that dressing room.
Wolves got rid of Coady, John Ruddy, Romain Saiss, Fernando Marcal, Leander Dendoncker and Willy Boly in the summer, and it’s had a disastrous impact.
Neves going would create another huge hole in the dressing room.
Quite simply, Wolves sanctioning any exit for the maestro in January would be negligent.