Newcastle United are hoping to be in the Champions League next season, and so is Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Ruben Neves.
Neves is being heavily linked with a move away from Wolves this summer, with Newcastle one of the clubs rumoured to be keen. It has been claimed that the Magpies admire his shooting ability and passing range.
The 26-year-old is on Eddie Howe’s radar, with Newcastle looking to sign a new centre-midfielder ahead of next season. There will be a real desire to improve the squad’s depth, especially if we qualify for the Champions League.
That is a real possibility, with Newcastle in control of their own destiny heading into the final eight games of the season.
Finishing in the top four will make the Magpies much more appealing in the transfer market, which brings us back to Neves…
Wolves want £40m for Champions League calibre Ruben Neves
According to the Telegraph, Neves is expected to leave Wolves this summer. The report adds that Julen Lopetegui’s side will command a fee of around £40million for the Portugal international, whose contract at Molineux expires in 2024.
He is idolised in the West Midlands, but there appears to be an acceptance that he is going to leave to play at a higher level. The Telegraph state that people inside Wolves believe that Neves should be playing for a club that is in the Champions League.
That is where the elite play, and where Wolves believe that Neves belongs. He has played in the competition with Porto, and will hope to return next season when he moves clubs.
It is something that Newcastle could potentially offer him, with the Magpies closing in on a top four finish. A win against Tottenham on Sunday would really boost our chances of playing Champions League football next season.
That is what the Toon fans are hoping for – and so is Neves. He deserves to play in Europe’s top competition, and a move to Newcastle could give him the chance to do just that.
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