Ruben Neves has taken a step towards Barcelona

Stuart Telford

• Updated: 28 Jan 2023 12:40 GMT
• 3 min read

Wolverhampton Wanderers have given their biggest clue yet that Portugal midfielder Ruben Neves is set to join Barcelona.

Neves has long been linked with a move to Barca, with the Blaugrana keen to sign a defensive midfielder who could act as the long-term replacement for Sergio Busquets, whose contract is up at the end of the season.

Wolves have thus far managed to hold onto their captain, whose current deal at Molineux runs until June 2024, but Barca are confident they could get him at a knock-down price as he approaches the final year of his contract.

READ: Ruben Neves set to replace Busquets at Barcelona despite Xavi concerns

"Aware that his departure in the summer will be a reality, Wolves have decided to move for Brazilian midfielder Joao Gomes, who will turn 22 in February and has just won the Copa Libertadores and the Copa do Brasil with Flamengo," report Spanish outlet Sport.

Gomes to replace Neves to replace Busquets

Barca had also reportedly been interested in Gomes, who is set to complete a €17m move to Wolves instead. A defensive midfielder of quite some aplomb and one who is four years younger than Neves, his arrival clearly frees up a Neves sale.

Neves is rated at €44.2m by FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm, but his asking price will dip the nearer the conclusion of his contract draws. In any case, who should be cheaper than another Barcelona - and Arsenal - target in Martin Zubimendi.

READ: Arsenal get major Zubimendi boost as Barcelona turn to alternative

"Neves signing is much more feasible than Zubimendi's," Sport continue. "Since Real Sociedad don't plan to lower his asking price a single euro from his €60m release clause and his future points to the Premier League."

Zubimendi was high on the Gunners' shopping list, but whether that remains the case with the Premier League leaders on the cusp of signing Moises Caicedo from Brighton remains to be seen.