Premier League midfielder has agreed to join Barcelona as Sergio Busquets’ replacement

Premier League midfielder has agreed to join Barcelona as Sergio Busquets’ replacement.

Barcelona is searching for a replacement for club captain Sergio Busquets because his contract with the club expires at the end of the current season.

Frenkie de Jong has excelled in the pivot role this season when used, and Nico Gonzalez will return to the team next season, but the Blaugrana are looking to acquire a quality operator who can replace the La Masia product in the long run.

And according to a report from SPORT, Barcelona’s top choice to replace Busquets for the upcoming season is midfielder Ruben Neves of Wolves and Portugal.

The 25-year-old has been on Barcelona’s radar for some time, and the Blaugrana even made inquiries about a potential transfer for him this past summer.

Although it appeared that the player was eager to depart, Wolves’ requirements for the midfielder complicated the trade. Barça, however, is still interested in Neves and plans to pursue him once more in 2023.

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The Wolves captain’s Premier League team may be compelled to sell him because there have been no signs that he wants to sign a contract extension before his deal with Wolves expires in 2024.

Super-agent Jorge Mendes represents Neves, which provides Barcelona an advantage because club president Joan Laporta gets along well with him.

The 25-year-old, who plays permanently in the middle for Wolves, has missed just eight games over the previous three seasons. He can be a great addition for Barça because he is a seasoned performer with no history of injuries and is familiar with the demands of playing as a pivot midfielder.

The Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi has also caught the attention of the Catalan giants. They are conscious, nevertheless, that it would be challenging to sign the Spaniard because La Real will not compromise on their demands for the transfer cost.

In addition, Zubimendi has a release clause with Sociedad worth €60 million, which could increase to €90 million during contract discussions.

Neves is therefore being seen more favorably by Barcelona as a potential replacement for Neves.