Wolves dealt transfer blow as Chelsea and Barcelona target ‘edges closer’ to January move

Wolverhampton Wanderers have been hit with a huge blow as Barcelona are reportedly progressing with a move for star man Ruben Neves. The Portuguese, who has also been heavily linked with a switch to Chelsea, has been the subject of heavy transfer speculation over recent months.

It’s no wonder that this is the case, as Neves has been arguably the only standout player during a disappointing Wolves season. It would be understandable if the player was to be keen on the move, too, with the Wanderers currently in an embarrassing state at rock bottom of the Premier League standings.

According to Argentine journalist Veronica Brunati via Transfer News Live, Barcelona are ‘edging closer’ to agreeing on a deal with Wolves to sign Neves. The 25-year-old, who can play either as a defensive midfielder or a playmaker, has scored four league goals this campaign - exactly half of Wolves’ total.

Since signing from Porto as a 20-year-old in July 2017, Neves has made 228 appearances in all competitions, contributing 28 goals and 12 assists. Having played a significant role in the Wanderers’ promotion campaign, Neves soon established himself as one of the first names on the team sheet and he has remained there ever since.

The midfielder, who has become renowned for scoring goals from outside the area, was a key figure in Wolves’ historic Europa League run in the 2019/20 season. It comes as no surprise that Neves has been touted to become a star for Barcelona in a revival under manager Xavi Hernandez.

The player himself also refused to rule out a move when asked back in October. “If you ask in general, all players want to play for Barca,” Neves said via Fabrizio Romano. “It’s one of the clubs in the world. It’s a privilege for me to be linked to this team. Who wouldn’t want to play for Barcelona? It’s normal,” he added.

Chelsea, who are also said to be interested in bringing in Neves, could yet make a late move to spoil the Barcelona party, but there are no concrete reports just yet about any contact made. For now, this is a wait and see - though it does seem increasingly likely Neves will depart Molineux.