Ruben Neves is reportedly close to sealing a sensational move to Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia.
It is now being widely reported that an agreement has been reached between Wolves and the Saudi Pro League club.
According to the Express & Star, Neves is set to complete a move for around £47 million.
For weeks, it had looked as though Neves would move to Barcelona.
Officials at Camp Nou had admired him, and it had even been claimed that they targeted him last summer.
But Barcelona’s financial situation prevented them from making a straight cash offer. They had hoped to do a swap deal involving Ansu Fati, but the winger was never willing to come.
Now Neves is set for a very left-field move.
Ruben Neves set to complete move to Al Hilal, he’s been offered TEN TIMES his current wage
According to the Express & Star, Wolves and Al Hilal have come to an agreement on a £47 million transfer. But personal terms have not yet been agreed.
But CBS journalist Ben Jacobs reports that Neves has agreed personal terms with Barca. But there is no agreement between Wolves and Barca.
Jacobs has also said something today that perhaps explains why this move to Al Hilal looks like it could come to fruition.
He wrote: “Understand Neves has been offered around ten times his current wage. Be a big signing for the Saudi Pro League if it comes off given Neves is only 26. Nothing done yet, though, but talks are progressing.”
It has been reported that Wolves had wanted to sell Neves this summer rather than lose him on a free next year.
Reports of Ruben Neves potentially making a move to Saudi Arabia are very surprising
This is a very surprising turn of events.
For months Neves has been linked with a move to Barcelona and that was apparently his dream move.
But it appears Al Hilal are now set to sign the Portuguese maestro.
Neves is thought to be on about £50,000-a-week at Molineux. So the idea of him being offered ten times that perhaps does make it easy to understand why he’s considering it.
But frankly, it would be a massive shame to see Neves make this particular move.
Neves is not even in his prime yet, and he has the capacity to be playing for a top club in Europe.
He could be a star in a top Champions League team and compete for silverware.
If the move actually comes to fruition, then it will undoubtedly upset quite a few people. It also potentially gets the ball rolling in terms of players Saudi clubs signing more high profile players who are not at the end of their careers.