---
title: "Wolves: Alex Crook makes Ruben Neves exit claim"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/wolves-ruben-neves-transfer-gossip-news/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Daniel Clubbe"
section: "Follow up"
published: "2022-06-16T16:40:41Z"
modified: "2022-06-16T16:40:41Z"
---

# Wolves: Alex Crook makes Ruben Neves exit claim

**TalkSPORT reporter Alex Crook has delivered a significant verdict on the future of [Wolverhampton Wanderers](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/wolves-news/) midfielder Ruben Neves.**

### The lowdown: Wanted man

A [transfer target](https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1619031/Arsenal-Man-Utd-Barcelona-transfer-news-Xavi-Ruben-Neves-latest-SNT) for Premier League rivals Arsenal and Manchester United as well as La Liga giants Barcelona, Neves could be set to be at the centre of a prolonged bidding war this summer.

This comes after the 25-year-old himself [suggested](https://theathletic.com/news/ruben-neves-admits-his-wolves-future-is-in-doubt/5hS2hIkccmlF/) that a [five-year spell](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ruben-neves/transfers/spieler/225161) at Molineux could be coming to an end after the 2021/22 campaign in order to ‘live his football dreams’ away from the Midlands club.

Despite the apparent desire to move on swiftly, Neves – who was lauded by journalist Ryan Leister for a [‘magnificent’](https://twitter.com/MrRyanLeister/status/975090442739036165) display over Burton Albion in 2018 and has kept that form up ever since – is yet to attract the offers that the Wolves hierarchy would deem suitable to sanction the departure of its [£36million valued](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ruben-neves/profil/spieler/225161) prized asset.

### The latest: Fosun open to selling

Albeit no such bids have been forthcoming and the main protagonists for the capture, Barcelona, remain in a financial conundrum, Crook has told [Give Me Sport](https://www.givemesport.com/88021858-wolves-resigned-to-losing-58k-a-week-star-at-molineux) that the exit remains inevitable and club chiefs are even ‘open’ to it.

He said: “I think they’re going to lose Ruben Neves; they’re resigned to that.

“They’re going to get decent money, and I think they’re almost open to it because the owners want them to be self-sufficient, so they’re not just going to pump money in. If they sell Neves, it will allow them to sign a couple of players – Palhinha would be one.”

\[freshpress-quiz id=”398117″\]

### The verdict: Sooner the better

If indeed Neves is destined to no longer represent the Old Gold next season, something he has done with rich acclaim on [212 occasions](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ruben-neves/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/225161) until now, all parties should want the situation resolved as swiftly as possible in order to get their own ducks in a row as an early pre-season looms.

For Wolves and Bruno Lage, the framework after the sale will be to find a successor, with Matheus Nunes and the aforementioned Joao Palhinha seemingly the [frontrunners](https://www.footmercato.net/a7067028793653807886-sporting-des-clubs-de-premier-league-prets-a-miser-gros-sur-matheus-nunes) to be tasked with filling the boots of the Portugal international.

That said, given Neves’ importance and continued output at the top level, Fosun will not be held to ransom over their [30-cap](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ruben-neves/nationalmannschaft/spieler/225161/verein_id/3300) man and will hold out for what they believe to be a fair price for the cultured midfielder.

***In other news, one player has reportedly edged closer to a move to Wolves. Find out who it is [here](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/wolves-news/wolves-joao-palhinha-edges-closer-to-wanderers-move-transfer-lage-neves/).***