Barcelona have ‘total agreement’ to sign midfielder linked to Arsenal and Liverpool

Robin Bairner

• 27 May 2023 19:40 BST
• 3 min read

Barcelona are poised to complete their first summer transfer, with the Camp Nou club “just a small step away” from completing the signing of Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves. Indeed, they are reportedly just days away from making the deal official.

The 26-year-old has long been linked with a move to a major club, with Premier League sides Manchester United, Liverpool and, more recently, Arsenal all linked with the former Porto player.

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According to reports from his native Portugal, though, it is Barcelona who have won the race for the midfielder, who appeared to say goodbye to the Wolves fans last weekend.

A Bola states that Neves has already accepted a contract offer from the Catalans and that there is a “total agreement” between Barca and Wolves regarding the transfer arrangements. Confusingly, the report then goes on to state that a deal could be concluded either with a lump-sum payment or a transfer that includes Ansu Fati in part exchange.

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Who will Ruben Neves sign for?

These reports run contrary to some in England, which state that Liverpool remain a serious option, though A Bola asserts that the conclusion of the deal is a matter of days away.

Barcelona will need to get the green light from La Liga before completing any transfers. The Catalans’ financial problems mean that they have to have their budget ratified by the League before any new contracts can be ratified.

Spanish reports suggest that their priority is renewing the deals of Gavi and Ousmane Dembele, while beyond that their target is re-signing Lionel Messi. There is little mention of Neves in these dispatches.

Indeed, reports from Spain suggest that the transfer talk surrounding Neves has not drawn universal approval from the club, with agent Jorge Mendes pushing the board to accept a deal while head coach Xavi has campaigned against it.

The Portuguese report, though, is forceful in its wording, yet until Neves appears in the Blaugrana, Arsenal, Liverpool and their Premier League rivals will still feel there is a chance of landing the Wolves star.