Journalist Dean Jones has claimed that Ruben Neves potentially leaving Molineux is Wolves being a victim of their own success.
Neves has been a consistent performer for Wolves since he signed in 2017, making over 200 appearances across the five seasons that he has been at the club, according to Transfermarkt, and has formed a fine partnership with fellow countryman Joao Moutinho.
The Portugal international has been linked with a move away from Molineux, with the main clubs concerned in his signature being Manchester United and Arsenal, as he may look to follow former teammate Diogo Jota’s footsteps with a move to a ‘bigger’ club.
Dean Jones spoke to GIVEMESPORT and claimed that Wolves are paying the price of their own success as their players are starting to be on the wish list of bigger clubs.
“It is the price of success when your players are wanted by bigger clubs. As soon as you’re rising like Wolves have been, you’re always going to get to a point at some stage where teams start picking off your best players,” Jones said.
With a potential move away from Molineux for Neves, we noted two knock-on effects that the transfer could have for Wolves.
Chance for Morgan Gibbs-White?
Morgan Gibbs-White has spent this season on loan in the Championship with Sheffield United and has impressed after scoring nine times and registering seven assists in 27 league games. These stats may have caught Bruno Lage’s eye ahead of next season, as he may look to implement the 22-year-old into his side, following an impressive season with the Blades.
The English midfielder has been unable to cement his place in the Wolves first-team after coming through their youth system, as Neves and Moutinho have held down the central midfield area, but with the former potentially moving away from Molineux in the summer, this could be his chance.
Blow for Bruno Lage?
Neves has been key for Wolves this campaign as Lage looks to push on for European football next season – he has an average player rating of 7.2 over his last five games, and has an average of 73.5 touches per game, as per Sofascore.
The 25-year-old has been a mainstay in the heart of the Wolves midfield, alongside Moutinho, whose contract is set to expire at the end of the season, so it could be double trouble for Lage in the summer if both of his trustworthy midfield duo leave.