Ruben Neves: The wolves confidently keep the midfielder targeted by Man Utd as a replacement for Frenkie de Jong | News about Transfer Center

Wolves are confident that Ruben Neves will stay this summer and the club want to talk to him about a new contract.

Neves is one of the potential options at Manchester United if they are unsuccessful with Barcelona’s pursuit of Frenkie de Jong, who is also a Chelsea target.

Neves shares an agent with Cristiano Ronaldo – Jorge Mendes, who is continuing to search for a solution for the Portuguese star, who wants to leave Old Trafford.

Neves still has two years left on his Wolves contract, so the club are in no hurry to tie him down, but it is likely an approach will be taken after the transfer window.

The relationship between the player and the club is good – and they will gladly include a clause allowing him to move to a Champions League club.

Neves is keen to play in a European luxury league and has always been intrigued by the idea of ​​playing for Barcelona, ​​who have put him on their list of potential recruits, especially if they lose De Jong.

For now, Neves is fully focused on the new season with Wolves and is certain that he will feature in the Portugal squad at the Winter World Cup in Qatar. He will start in their Premier League opener at Leeds on Saturday.

Lille’s Renato Sanches has been another player seen as a possible alternative target in midfield at United but Sky in Italy is reporting that he will undergo a medical examination with Paris Saint-Germain.

Meanwhile, Wolves have made it a priority to sign a striker ahead of time, after Raul Jimenez picked up an injury ahead of the season opener.

Adama Traore, who is also now out of action, could also look to leave ahead of time after spending the second half of last season on loan at Barcelona, ​​but there are no concrete options for him yet. that.

Where will Man Utd return if they do not sign De Jong?

Sky Sports News reporter Melissa Reddy:

“We know Frenkie de Jong is a priority target for Manchester United, but with the deal lasting, alternatives will be on the horizon and one of the names we know they have considered and are interested in is. Wolves’ Ruben Neves.

“The Old Trafford club have long been of interest because of his style, his incredible passing, a threat in scoring and he controls the tempo really well – all of these things. You want to be an anchor in a progressive team.

“We know Wolves value him up to £60m. They won’t want to lose him necessarily, but United have to start looking at the reality the longer the De Jong saga drags on without a resolution between him. and Barcelona, ​​what else can be done?

“However, from the United side, they are still quite confident in the deal with Barcelona for De Jong and quite confident that the player really wants to join them.

“The other name that is quite popular is Renato Sanches, who can play as an anchor, but is better when used as a box-to-box midfielder. But he is also linked with PSG, so I wouldn’t put too much on that name.”

Could August 13 be the decisive day in Man Utd’s pursuit of De Jong?

Sky Sports News reporter Dharmesh Sheth:

“Frenkie de Jong remains Manchester United’s No 1 choice and I’m sure, personally, they’ve set their own deadlines.

“The transfer window is open until September 1 and Erik ten Hag has said that he needs De Jong because he really understands how the team is going to play under him. So they will try with equal measure. every way to try to sign him”.

“Personally, the deadline has not yet come because United have to get some encouragement from De Jong or from Barcelona to suggest the deal can still be done.

“That’s not to say they aren’t looking at alternatives like Ruben Neves and to a lesser extent Renato Sanches. They are keeping those alternatives warm if the De Jong situation doesn’t turn out the way they do. would like.

“I just wonder if, by August 13, we have a better idea. Joan Laporta mentioned that date is the date of signing the new Barcelona contract. Whether those players need to be sold. De Jong to match them?

“If that’s the case, it’s not surprising that Manchester United sit back because they don’t want to be involved in everything that’s going on at Barcelona and they’ve got a broad agreement.”

Do Man Utd really want to keep Ronaldo?

Sky Sports News Chief Correspondent Kaveh Solhekol:

“I think what Cristiano Ronaldo’s advisers will say is that other clubs have terminated the player – for example, Inter Milan are doing it with Alexis Sanchez and they have done it with Arturo Vidal as well. .

“One way to deal with this is if Ronaldo’s contract is terminated. But there’s no indication that’s what Manchester United are willing to do at the moment.

“If you remember that the player wants to leave, I think in the end he will go his own way regardless of what Manchester United are saying.

“Of course, they have to know that he’s not for sale and that he has a year left on his contract, but do they really want to keep a player of his caliber against his will?

“Henry Winter put it in so well Time – the introduction to his column is ‘Erik ten Hag is the future of Manchester United; Cristiano Ronaldo is already in the past’.

“Which way you look at it, Ronaldo is a thing of the past and Henry goes on to say that he thinks it would be best for all parties if Ronaldo made it his way and United let him go.”

‘Saying Ronaldo is for sale could bring his price down’

Sky Sports News reporter Dharmesh Sheth:

“Ronaldo and his agents have put Manchester United in a rather difficult position because it has been exactly a month since he made it clear that he wanted to leave the club and that he wanted to play for the Champions League.

“At the time, I – like many, I’m sure – thought that Jorge Mendes would immediately present the club with an offer they could talk about. But there was no offer.

“Actually, I think what they’re trying to do is increase interest in Ronaldo, so now United find themselves in a position where they have a player they’re not happy with; Erik ten Hag is facing a challenge. deal with him, but they did take a public stance that he was not for sale.

“Saying anything other than that would lower the potential price.”

Journalist’s Notebook: How Ten Hag made his mark at Old Trafford

There was a pause, about three seconds or so that allowed the technical staff to give his most accurate assessment of the manager’s pre-season debut in charge of Manchester United.

“Without a doubt, this is Erik ten Hag’s club.”

The summary requires no elaboration for those who witnessed the Dutchman up close during United’s tour of Thailand and Australia.

Ten Hag took control, his influence not only extending to big details at the club like the operating structure, but even the little things like preventing players from visiting and being filmed. on an Australian film set. Neighbor.

Nothing escapes the manager, from the team’s media engagements to the exact distances between the cones in drills he tends to measure himself.

When something does not become his “highest standard” characteristic, there is no silence.

Read Sky Sports News senior reporter Melissa Reddy’s full feature here.

Follow the summer transfer window with Sky Sports

Who will move this summer before the transfer window closes at 11 a.m. on September 1.

Stay up to date with all the latest transfer news and rumors in our column Transfer Center Blog above Sports Sky’ digital platform. You can also capture detailed information and analysis about Sky Sports News.