Wolves are said to have no interest in a swap deal involving Ruben Neves and Ansu Fati this summer.
This idea first came to light towards the end of the 2022/23 season.
Barcelona have long been interested in Neves.
Although it appears most of that interest comes from the club’s president Joan Laporta.
But the club’s financial problems are well documented.
They cannot afford to buy Neves with straight cash and so, we have been getting reports of Jorge Mendes attempting to convince Fati to make a move to Molineux, so Barca would not have to pay for Neves.
But this is not something Wolves have interest in. It has been claimed that Fati doesn’t particularly have a great interest in the move.
Wolves not interested in Ansu Fati swap deal as Ruben Neves to Barcelona continues to stall – they want straight cash
The Athletic have given an update on this situation this morning.
They cast doubt on the reports that have been coming from Spain for weeks.
Wolves are apparently not interested in Fati. They do, however, want to sell Neves, 26, to Barca and receive a cash sum.
Apparently, the only feasible way now in which Wolves do sell Neves to Barcelona, is if Barcelona are able to find another buyer for Fati.
It’s stated if Mendes can find a club that is willing to sign Fati for around £70 million, then Barca would ‘almost certainly reward’ Mendes by spending some of that money on Neves.
Ruben Neves to Barcelona could rumble on for weeks if it depends on another club buying Ansu Fati
This proposed move has the potential to really disrupt Wolves’ efficiency this summer.
Barcelona is thought to be Neves’ dream move. The player even moved out his belongings a year ago in anticipation he would be moving to the Camp Nou. It then fell through.
But they just don’t have the cash.
So Wolves are now seemingly relying on Mendes to find a buyer for Fati so that Barca will have funds to sign Neves.
But which club would be willing to spend so much money on Fati, a player who has struggled for game time this season?
With Wolves needing player sales this summer and Neves being the biggest saleable asset, this is just not ideal.
Hopefully another club will come in for Neves and the midfielder is open to joining them. If of course, he doesn’t want to stay at Wolves for one final season.