Sources: Liverpool have ‘concrete’ interest in signing Ruben Neves, biding time for late January swoop
Liverpool have turned their attention to a late-window deal for Wolves star man Ruben Neves, sources have told Football Insider.
The Portugese midfielder, 25, is firmly on the radar of the Merseysiders despite Jurgen Klopp saying his club are unlikely to make another January signing.
Liverpool want a top-class midfielder capable of slotting straight into their starting XI with top target Jude Bellingham unavailable until the summer.
Wolves could be willing to listen to offers for Jorge Mendes client Neves, whose contract expires in the summer of 2024.
His value is coming down from the “£100million” price tag slapped on him by ex-manager Bruno Lage last April.
Liverpool are biding their time to make a move, as they are aware Wolves are continuing the recruitment drive that is expected to see six January signings completed by the club this month.
Once all the deals are in finalised, the Merseyside giants could make a last-gasp swoop for Neves.
The source explained that Liverpool’s interest is “concrete” and they will bid if offered encouragement a deal is possible.
Neves is proven in the Premier League with 160 appearances in the competition and also supplies goals from midfield, with 19 in the league among his 28 Wolves career goals.
Wolves have already signed Matheus Cunha from Atletico Madrid on an initial loan deal as well as Mario Lemina from Nice for a fee of around £9.7million.
Football Insider revealed last week (13 January) the Midlands outfit are in advanced talks to sign Flamengo midfielder Joao Gomes in a £15million deal, and they have also agreed a fee for Paris Saint-Germain winger Pablo Sarabia.
The 30-year-old will have a medical at Wolves on Tuesday and sign a two-and-half-year deal, becoming their third recruit of the transfer window.
But they will not be finished there and it is believed that Wolves are looking to have completed six January signings in total before the window shuts.
In other news, Kieran Maguire: FSG ‘privately furious’ as new Liverpool accusation emerges.