Liverpool have been warned that Ruben Neves remains “committed” to Wolverhampton Wanderers and he looks highly likely to remain with the club as the Reds eye the playmaker ahead of Thursday’s transfer deadline.
Jurgen Klopp has already confirmed that the Merseysiders are attempting to make a midfield signing before the window closes amid an ever-growing injury list. Thiago Alcantara, Naby Keita, Curtis Jones and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are all restricted to the sidelines after picking up problems over the opening weeks of the campaign.
A number of players are on Liverpool's shortlist including Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong, RB Leipzig’s Konrad Laimer and Wolves ’s Ruben Neves.
The Portuguese has of course been linked with a switch away from his current club on numerous occasions in the past with Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal all at one point listed among the former Porto man’s admirers.
However, Klopp has been warned over a swoop for the midfielder by current boss Bruno Lage. Speaking after his side’s 1-1 draw with Newcastle United - a game in which Neves opened the scoring with a spectacular effort from range - he said: “I can confirm I’m 99 per cent sure Ruben Neves will stay at Wolverhampton this summer. He’s happy here and committed.”
It remains to be seen if Liverpool manage to seal a deal for Neves over the closing days of the transfer window. The 25-year-old has two years remaining on his deal at Molineux and Wolves are expected to demand a considerable fee for one of their prized assets.
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He was expected to leave Wolves this summer having appeared to bid an emotional farewell to the Midlands club after their final fixture of the 2021/22 campaign. The midfielder himself has admitted that he did not anticipate still being a Wolves player four matches into the new season.
He said: "Let's see what happens. I try to focus 100 per cent on my football and I had a good start to the season but we need results now.
“If you ask me at the end of last season I would have said to you, 'I will leave' but I'm still here, so we never know what's going to happen."
Neves has been a star performer in the Black Country since arriving from Portuguese giants Porto in 2017 for what was a then-Championship transfer record.
He has gone on to make 217 appearances for the club and played a key role in the club’s promotion to the Premier League, whilst also participating in the club’s run to the Europa League quarter-finals during the 2019/20 campaign.
