Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Ruben Neves has been offered to Champions League giants Barcelona by his agent Jorge Mendes, according to Mundo Deportivo (via Talking Wolves).

The Lowdown: Neves' Wolves career

Having arrived at the club in 2017, the Portugal international has played a crucial role in the Old Gold's success since their promotion to the Premier League four years ago.

The 25-year-old has made 222 appearances for Wolves, having played the full 90 minutes in every league game so far this season.

The midfielder was named club captain this summer after Conor Coady left to join Everton on a season-long loan, a deal which includes a purchase option for the Toffees.

According to a report by Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo on Saturday, as relayed by Talking Wolves on Twitter, Mendes has once again offered Barcelona the chance to sign Neves from the Midlands outfit.

However, it is reported that the La Liga club’s manager Xavi currently prefers other options heading into the January transfer window.

As per Mundo Deportivo’s report, Neves’ intermediary met with Camp Nou chiefs on Thursday, and the player was one topic discussed amongst many others between the two parties.

The Verdict: He'd be a massive loss

When looking at the 25-year-old’s underlying statistics, it is clear to see just how big of a blow his departure from Molineux would be for Wolves.

As per FBRef, compared with positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year, the midfielder ranks in the 92nd percentile for clearances, the 86th percentile for passes attempted and the 85th percentile for non-penalty goals.

This indicates a player who is willing to work hard out of possession, keep the play progressing and make an impact in the final third; and having earned stylistic comparisons to the likes of West Ham’s Declan Rice, it is no wonder the Portugal international has been dubbed ‘outstanding’ by journalist Tim Spiers.

Consequently, Wolves should do everything that they can to keep hold of their captain, as he has proven to be so crucial at Molineux in recent years.