Wolves Set to Make Surprise Club Record Signing of Porto Prodigy Ruben Neves
In what is most likely going to be one of the shock moves in the summer transfer window, it was reported by the Mirror on Tuesday that Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers are close to sealing a deal to sign Portuguese prodigy Ruben Neves for a club record fee of £15.8m.
The 20 year-old central midfielder is due to arrive in England within 24 hours to have a medical with the West Midland club.
Having been previously scouted by the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United, the twice capped Portuguese international would be a big swoop for Wolves.
Porto's midfielder Ruben Neves (C) vies with Benfica's Argentinian midfielder Nico Gaitan (L) and midfielder Luis Fernandes 'Pizzi' during the Portuguese league football match SL Benfica vs FC Porto at the Luz stadium in Lisbon on April 26, 2015. AFP PHOTO/ JOSE MANUEL RIBEIRO (Photo credit should read JOSE MANUEL RIBEIRO/AFP/Getty Images)
JOSE MANUEL RIBEIRO/GettyImages
A move to Molineux stadium would also mean a chance to play under former Porto and new Wolves boss Nuno Espírito Santo.
Santo is keen to work with Neves again and will no doubt be instrumental in attracting the player to the club.
Porto's coach Nuno Espirito Santo arrives before the Portuguese league football match FC Porto vs FC Pacos de Ferreira at the Dragao stadium in Porto on May 14, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / MIGUEL RIOPA (Photo credit should read MIGUEL RIOPA/AFP/Getty Images)
MIGUEL RIOPA/GettyImages
Behind the scenes, Santo's representative and super agent Jorge Mendes is the man masterminding the shock Neves transfer. This will be a feat that will perhaps come with little surprise to some as Mendes has previously managed to bring foreign players to Molineux before.
The £15.8m transfer fee would surpass the £13m Wolves paid in the January transfer window for Portuguese winger Helder Costa.
