Wolves journalist Nathan Judah has given his thoughts on Ruben Neves following claims that he could be in line for a new contract.
Having been one of Wolves’ most important over the years by helping them get out of the Championship, establish themselves in the Premier League and go on a run in Europe – scoring 23 goals and chipping in with 11 assists since his arrival in 2017 – making sure that he stayed at the club was always going to be important.
And it looks as if there could be some inroads into making that a reality, as according to an interview with technical director Scott Sellars, they are ‘talking to him’ about a new deal at the club, even though his current one doesn’t expire until the summer of 2024.
Speaking on the E&S Wolves podcast, Judah gave his views on the matter, claiming that he envisions the midfielder putting pen to paper on a new long-term deal, but that it didn’t necessarily mean that he would be sticking around for the duration of it.
He said: “I’m starting to think, I can see him signing a long-term deal at Wolves. I’m not saying that’s going to keep him at this club for a long term, but I think he genuinely loves, and loves what the football club has done for him and done for his family. And the more I think about it, especially in a World Cup year, does he want to be moving clubs?
“I could see him signing a long-term contract on massively improved terms and potentially saying, ‘Okay, I’m going to stay for one more year’, he’ll be 26 next season, still got a massive contract ahead of him, concentrate on the club, concentrate on the World Cup, go and have a great World Cup for your country, and almost have – and I know it’s difficult, especially in these times, but I don’t think Jeff Shi is Daniel Levy – a gentlemen’s agreement that at the end of next season, after one more big season, he will be allowed to go to a ‘major club’ if Wolves cannot offer Champions League football, so to speak.”
TIF Thoughts on Nathan Judah’s comments on Ruben Neves at Wolves…
Will Neves sign a contract at Wolves?
Yes
No
Judah’s thoughts on the matter do kind of represent a situation where everyone’s a winner if indeed it plays out this way and Wolves lose a man who currently ranks in the top five for them this season in terms of tackles, interceptions, goals, assists and shots per game (via WhoScored).
Wolves would get another year out of arguably their most important player – something they’ll need back off him as he is set to miss a lot of the run-in through injury, which could cost them a place in Europe that they’re fighting for. They could get a really big fee for him that will help them reinvest in the squad, whilst Neves gets a move to a big club that his performances deserve.
Whether or not this is indeed how it plays out, we’ll have to wait and see, but given that they appear to be in negotiations, his short-term future at the very least could be solved very soon.
In other news: Journalist not happy after update involving Wolves’ Adama Traore