Presenter Joe Thomlinson has identified an ideal replacement for Wolves’ Ruben Neves while speaking on the Football Daily YouTube channel.
A recent report from The Athletic by David Ornstein claimed that while Wolves would be happy for Neves to extend his stay at Molineux, there is also a willingness to sell him this summer if a good enough offer is received.
Could Sarabia replace Neves?
Yes!
No!
Neves was a stunning signing back during Wolves’ time in the Championship as he had already captained FC Porto while also having Champions League appearances under his belt, but since moving to the Midlands, he’s been unable to add to those, which may see him have a desire to explore pastures new in the summer. He has been linked with Man United this year.
With Wolves potentially requiring a replacement for the midfielder this summer, Thomlinson suggested another player plying his trade in Portugal could be a viable successor.
Thomlinson believes that Sporting’s Pablo Sarabia, who has nine goals and seven assists in the Portuguese top flight this season, could give Wolves a different dimension in midfield, while also replacing Neves sufficiently.
He said: “I think Wolves could do a lot worse than having a look at a little bit more goals from midfield and having a look at Pablo Sarabia, who has been unbelievable this season in Liga NOS on loan at Sporting.”
TIF Thoughts on Sarabia replacing Neves…
Sarabia was shipped out on loan by Paris Saint-Germain over the summer after just two full seasons at the Parc des Princes, but it was certainly a less than fruitful time in Ligue 1, with just 26 starts alongside 10 goals and seven assists, which could send alarm bells ringing if Wolves have been scouting him.
The Spanish midfielder is a different type of player to Neves, with the Wolves man someone who likes to dictate play from deep – as his 1,951 touches and 120 progressive passes, the most in the Wolves squad, suggest – whereas Sarbaia enjoys getting forward a lot more, which is shown by his goal involvement this season and the fact he’s taken more shots than Neves in the league this season.
So Bruno Lage would likely have to adopt a different style of play if he directly replaced Neves with Sarabia and potentially go to a three-man midfield to allow the Spaniard the licence to get forward more often.
In other news: Wolves star Ruben Neves sends message to Diogo Jota on Instagram