FC Barcelona have a number of operations ongoing as the club looks to strengthen their squad going into the next season. The midfield is one of the areas where the club is looking to invest significantly this summer, and the transfer of one of their targets is seemingly nearing its conclusion.
The target in question is Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Ruben Neves. According to SPORT, the player has already played his last game for Wolves, and his farewell in the last home game left no doubts that he will be leaving the club at the end of the season.
The player himself is set on joining FC Barcelona for the next season. The report from SPORT claims that he already has a verbal agreement for a 4-year contract with the Catalans, and is waiting to see how the entire operation pans out.
There is no total consensus at FC Barcelona about Neves’ signing. The coaching staff, including Xavi, have not been convinced of Neves’ quality or his ability to contribute significantly to the club’s style of play. The sporting department and the board have been the main advocates and movers of this operation.
FC Barcelona would not be paying anything in cash for the player, and his transfer will be managed through a swap deal. The player’s agent, Jorge Mendes, has undertaken the operation in such a way that Ansu Fati will be moving to Wolves, and Wolves will allow Neves to join Barcelona, as well as giving €30 million in cash.
Another barrier to this deal is Ansu Fati’s acceptance of a transfer to Wolves. Recent reports suggested that the youngster is not very keen towards such a move, but as pressure on him increases in the coming months, he might be forced to give his approval for the transfer in the club’s interest.
