Ruben Neves, a Portugal international, has been connected to Newcastle United recently. Now, through noted journalist Fabrizio Romano, there is a new update.
Newcastle and Ruben Neves were connected.
Now that they’ve learned that Sandro Tonali will serve a 10-month sentence for breaking betting regulations while at AC Milan, the Magpies know they will need to bring in a big midfield player during the January transfer window.
One player who has surfaced as a top transfer target for Newcastle is Neves, who is presently playing for Al-Hillal in the Saudi Pro League after leaving Wolves at the end of the last campaign following an outstanding tenure at Molineux.
Financial Fair Play (FFP) is unlikely to permit the Magpies to add a permanent in January, thus a loan move for the 26-year-old has been discussed. However, other options are also being considered.
Eddie Howe is also said to have made wise selections in N’Golo Kante and Kalvin Phillips, who will help to replace the vacuum left by Tonali, who will not only miss Italy’s 2024 European Championship but also the rest of the campaign.
Midway through the season, a fresh development has surfaced regarding Newcastle’s possible pursuit of Neves, with rumors of a return to the Premier League beginning to simmer.
Romano updates Newcastle on Neves.
Giving Caught Offside a status report, Romano asserted that Neves is not likely to sign with Newcastle during the January transfer window:
Since Ruben Neves recently joined Al Hilal and is a vital member of their team, I’m not aware of any direct discussions going on for him.
“As I’ve stated numerous times, Newcastle won’t choose which player to recruit to fill Sandro Tonali’s void until they have a better understanding of where they stand in the UCL group. This is because selecting the right player will be based on level of play. The goal is undoubtedly to find a new midfield player in any event.”
Neves may be a perfect fit for Tonali in terms of play style, thus Newcastle would be losing out if they lost out on him. He has the Italian’s skill when it comes to possession in the midst of the park. He can occasionally contribute with finished goods and play strong defense.
Journalist Tim Spiers has previously referred to Neves as a “outstanding” player, and at 26, he is also arguably at his peak compared to players like Kante. The Frenchman is currently 32 years old and has struggled with injuries in recent years, and Phillips’ value has also somewhat declined following a disappointing stint at Manchester City.
Newcastle has a lot of time left to make a decision, though, and there is every chance that Neves’ head could be turned by the idea of being back in the Premier League.
Although Romano says the Portuguese player is content at Al-Hilal right now, the Saudi Pro League isn’t nearly as competitive as the English league, so the Magpies ought to give it a shot.
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