Reported Arsenal and Manchester United transfer target Ruben Neves is moving closer to a transfer to Barcelona this summer, according to reports. It comes as the Gunners are linked with a move for a number of midfielders to bolster their squad for next season.
The central ranks have been a particular problem throughout the season for Mikel Arteta, with a general lack of depth calling for some creative solutions. While Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey have been the go-to pairing, Mohamed Elneny, Martin Odegaard and Emile Smith Rowe have often been called upon to fulfill a role in the double pivot.
It means the Spaniard has some huge calls ahead of him in the next few weeks, with the result of the top four race potentially changing the business they can conduct in the transfer window. Ahead of the summer, Arteta said: “What we want to do is improve the team and the squad.
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“There’s not a player that can’t improve. We want to retain our best players for sure and add quality and depth. We have to be prepared for when we’re going to do that [keep players] and why. We can control those timings. Sometimes it’s inevitable but we want to maintain our best players."
A number of players have been linked, such as Napoli’s Fabian Ruiz and Monaco’s Aurelien Tchouameni. Among those names is also Wolves’ Neves, who has been heavily rumoured with an exit from the Midlands club.
The 25-year-old’s deal expires in 2024, with manager Bruno Lage quoting him at “£100million”. However, according to Sport, the midfielder is edging towards a move to Barcelona.
The report claims that the Blaugrana are anticipating a much lower transfer fee, with some youth players potentially making the move away. It represents a huge blow to Arsenal and Manchester United in their reported pursuit, though given the financial troubles of the Spanish club, it still remains to be seen whether a deal could still be carved out.
