Will Barcelona sign Rúben Neves from Wolves this summer?

Rúben Neves wants to play for LaLiga champions Barcelona and several senior executives at the Catalan club want to sign the Portuguese midfielder, report The Athletic.

Club president Joan Laporta also likes Neves and Barcelona considered signing him in 2022 but didn’t have the finance required to get a deal over the line.

Barça have held talks with the player’s agent Jorge Mendes about a transfer in the summer, however, Xavi is not convinced that Neves is the right replacement for the departing Sergio Busquets.

Xavi wants Zubimendi

The Barça boss wants to sign Real Sociedad’s defensive midfielder Martín Zubimendi as a replacement for Busquets. Zubimendi featured in La Real’s win over the Catalans at Camp Nou on Saturday.

Mendes represents Barcelona players Alejandro Balde, Ansu Fati and Lamine Yamal, and the report adds that the Blaugrana would go ahead with a move for Neves with Xavi’s blessing if Mendes can help sell Ansu Fati. The sale of Fati would enable Barcelona to collect some much-needed revenue to help rebuild the league-winning squad.

Fellow midfielder Franck Kessié could also depart this summer after one season under Xavi.

Fati not keen on Wolves

A lot will now depend on whether or not Mendes can convince Wolves to accept €45m for Neves and help find a new club for Fati with a potential fee of €75m, which would give Barcelona the profit they are looking for.

Fati has been mentioned as a possible player to move in the opposite direction to Neves but the forward does not want to move to Julen Lopetegui’s side.