Premier League giants Chelsea are interested in signing Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves in the January transfer window, according to journalist Simon Phillips.

The Lowdown: Neves on the move?

The Portuguese talent stayed put at Molineux beyond the summer transfer window, despite looking almost certain to leave at one point.

Neves has been linked with a move to a number of clubs, including Manchester United and Barcelona, and it could be that he moves on next summer.

Another club have now seemingly entered the race to snap up the 25-year-old.

The Latest: Chelsea keen on Neves

Writing in his Substack column, Phillips claimed that Chelsea are eyeing up the signing of Neves in January as Graham Potter looks to improve his squad moving forward.

The journalist stated:

"I’ve been told over the weekend that Ruben Neves is once again coming up in recruitment conversations and is a player being recommended by some at the club as a midfield target we should push for in January."

The Wolves midfielder's current deal expires in the summer of 2024, so the Molineux hierarchy may feel that next year is the ideal time to earn a hefty fee from selling him.

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The Verdict: Only a matter of time

While it would be the dream scenario for Neves to see out the rest of his career at Molineux, where he has become a stalwart of 228 appearances, the reality is that he will surely be keen on a greater challenge at some point in the near future.

Dubbed an 'amazing' player by club and international colleague Jose Sa, the Portugal midfielder could want to test himself in the Champions League, and he is someone who could add fresh legs and class to a Chelsea midfield with multiple players in their 30s.

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Shipping Neves off next summer makes the most sense instead of in January, unless he decides to sign a new contract out of nowhere, at which point Wolves would then need to spend the money wisely on top-class signings to compensate for parting with their best player this season according to WhoScored metrics.