Report claims Wolves want at least £40m for Neves amid Arsenal interest

Last month, it was reported that Wolves would be open to selling Ruben Neves for £35 million this summer.

But the Telegraph now claim that the bidding will start at £40 million for the Portuguese international.

They report that Arsenal are very keen on Neves in light of Granit Xhaka’s impending departure to join Roma.

And a bid from the Emirates Stadium is apparently expected before the end of the week.

Wolves are apparently open to a sale this summer to raise funds to allow Bruno Lage to reshape the squad.

But if Neves did leave, it would be a major loss. He has been integral to Wolves’ rise to the Premier League.

He’s one of the leaders of the group and is a talented playmaker with his best years ahead of him.

Wolves aren’t in Europe this season but neither are Arsenal. So would Neves want to go?

When Neves’ £35 million tag was reported, we wrote that Diogo Jota’s exit fee needed to be the benchmark really.

Wolves have bridged that gap to halfway between £35 million reported and the £45 million they’ll get for Jota with add-ons included.

It will be a tough summer financially across the league and if Neves really has to go to allow Lage to strengthen, then so be it.

But it feels like a risk and £40 million still feels a bit low given what Neves has done for the club and how much he could still offer.

Have something to tell us about this article?

Wolves U23s boss James Collins says Kam Kandola is ‘stepping up to the plate’