OPINION
Liverpool’s hopes of signing Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves this summer appear to have taken a major blow after it was reported that the Portugal international has agreed a new deal at Molineux.
Freelance journalist Tim Nash, who previously covered Wolves for the Express & Star, claimed via his personal Twitter account on Saturday that Neves, 21, has “doubled” his wages from £25,000-a-week to £50,000-a-week after shaking hands on a new a five-year contract.
Neves has agreed a new five-year contract to stay at Molineux until 2023.
— Tim Nash (@TimNash_1) June 30, 2018
It's understood Neves has doubled his salary from around £25,000 a week to £50,000 a week and is another firm signal from Molineux about the club's intentions following the signings of Raul Jimenez and Rui Patricio.
— Tim Nash (@TimNash_1) June 30, 2018
Neves has been on Liverpool’s radar a long time, according to FourFourTwo, and the popular football magazine claimed via their website in April that there has been ongoing talks between the midfield playmaker and the Anfield giants.
It was understood that he could leave Wolves if Liverpool were to make an acceptable offer and the player’s entourage had even jetted into England that a deal could advance over the weeks leading up to the summer transfer window.
However the talk of Neves’ move to Liverpool has since cooled off and it seems that is down to the fact that the pass master has signed a new deal at the West Midlands club.
Neves would have been a stunning addition for Jurgen Klopp too.
He scored six goals from his deeper-lying midfield position in 42 appearances across all competitions last season as Wolves won the Championship title in style.
It was a huge shock that Jorge Mendes’ highly-rated client moved to Molineux to start with when Wolves broke the Championship transfer record to sign him for just over £15million.
Neves is clearly someone of immense potential and probably has the ability to play for a Champions League club already.
However, for now at least, Liverpool’s chances of signing him look to be over as one year in the Premier League with Wolves may be the perfect platform for him to really thrust himself into the global spotlight next summer.