Man Utd and Arsenal face missing out on Ruben Neves as Barcelona start transfer talks for Wolves star
MANCHESTER UNITED and Arsenal face agony in their pursuit of Wolves star Ruben Neves with Barcelona reportedly starting talks over the midfielder.
The Portuguese playmaker's stellar form for Wolves this season has caught the eyes of some of Europe's biggest teams.
And both the Premier League sides have been ardently chasing the 24-year-old who's open to leaving Molineux when the season ends in the hopes of playing Champions League football, sources claim.
The Red Devils even reportedly tabled a £35million bid for the midfield maverick in January's transfer window, but Wolves were holding out for £40-45m for their prized asset who's still got two years left on his contract.
However, Barca have now waded into the fray for Neves' signature, according to the
It's said that intermediaries for Barcelona and Neves have already started talks.
The Catalan titans plan to re-unite the Portugal international with his former Wolves team-mate Adama Traore who made the loan switch to Spain in January with the option to buy this summer.
And Traore's flying start at the Nou Camp where he's already provided four assists across all competitions will have most likely caught Neves' attention.
FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS
Plus, the former comrades have the same agent in the form of Jorge Mendes who was responsible for bringing Traore to LaLiga.
Mendes has a good relationship with both Wolves and Barca as he also facilitated the loan switch of Francisco Trincao to the Prem side.
Xavi's team may also be an attractive proposition for Neves as another one of his ex-Prem peers - Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - has had a glowing start to his career with Barca.
The former Gunners hotshot has already hit the back of the net four times in as many games for the Spanish giants since his acrimonious exit from the Gunners at the start of the year.
Man United will be hoping that Neves' Portuguese compatriots Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes can sway the Wolves ace to join them at Old Trafford.
But both players are having a turbulent season with the Red Devils who are yet to cement their place in the Champions League next season.
And Neves may be reluctant to join a club who have been embroiled in a managerial merry-go-round over the past few seasons.
With United's interim boss Ralf Rangnick set to relinquish the role in the summer, the Red Devils are still undecided about who will take his spot.
Although several high profile managers such as Ajax boss Erik Ten Hag, along with Paris Saint-Germain head coach Mauricio Pochettino and Real Madrid's manager Carlo Ancelotti have been linked with the role.