Barcelona believe they will win the race to sign Arsenal target Ruben Neves in the summer transfer window. That is according to reports in the national media.
football.london understands that the north Londoners are keen on bringing in a central midfielder this summer, with Leicester City's Youri Tielemans one name on the club's shortlist. Another Premier League star that has been heavily linked is Wolves maestro Neves.
However, the Sunday Mirror have now reported that Catalan giants Barcelona believe they can land the Portuguese international for £50million following a massive cash injection from Spotify, whose owner Daniel Ek previously tried to buy Arsenal from Stan Kroenke. The Swedish billionaire publicly declared interest in the north London club last year before the Kreonkes confirmed they would not be selling.
Eventually, Barcelona agreed on a sponsorship with Spotify back in march, with the Guardian reporting that the deal is worth up to £238million, money that could reportedly help fund a move for the aforementioned Neves. The talented midfielder enjoyed an impressive 2021/22 season with Wolves, improving his passing ability whilst also helping Bruno Lage's side to the fifth-best defensive record in the English top-flight, conceding less than the likes of Manchester United and the Gunners.
READ MORE: Jordan Pickford delivers honest verdict on Arsenal star Aaron Ramsdale amid England claim
And the former Porto star has previously spoken about his future at Molineux, remaining coy when asked about a potential departure. "It's normal in football," he told Record in December 2021 when asked about a potential transfer. "Whenever there's a transfer market there's a lot of talk, but my goal and focus are on Wolverhampton and I'm not going to change that, things have been going really well for me.
"I still have a lot to learn, I have a lot to give here. The future will be seen soon, I like to live in the present and I'm happy, I feel great in Wolverhampton and I'll focus here, because if I do things right I'm sure the future will be bright. My goal will always be to give my best and give even more for the club."
