According to reports from Mirror Football, FC Porto are determined to hold onto Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool target Ruben Neves until at least next summer.
The 18-year-old, who team-mate Cristian Tello has compared to Barcelona’s formidable anchorman Sergio Busquets, became the youngest captain in Champions League history during a 2-0 win over Maccabi Tel Aviv earlier this season and is attracting interest from the Premier League.
Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool are all reportedly targeting the 5 foot 11 midfielder and the Gunners even sent former star Luis Boa Morte to run the rule over him on their behalf last week, following news that enforcer Francis Coquelin could be sidelined until February with a knee injury.
Neves would certainly constitute an exciting replacement for the crocked Frenchman, but Porto have no intention of cashing in when the transfer market reopens next month – according to Mirror Football.
Despite his £29million release clause being well within the financial reach of the Premier League trio, Porto believe the incentive of regular game-time ahead of Euro 2016 will be enough to convince Neves to stay on until at least the summer.