Why Manchester City must go all out to sign Ruben Neves
Manchester City were the best team in England last season as they walked to the Premier League crown with a record 100 points. But they fell short in Europe, where they were knocked out in the Champions League by Liverpool.
This year, they have made a great start to their domestic campaign but once again, the Sky Blues were beaten by Lyon at home in the Champions League. As is the case with any other team, City also suffer from injuries and fatigue to key players.
As a result, The Sun has linked Ruben Neves with a move to the Etihad Stadium. A report from Daily Mail has also revealed that Wolverhampton Wanderers have slapped a staggering £110million price tag to ward off potential suitors.
Ruben Neves is a 21-year-old midfielder who played a key role in Wolves’ Championship triumph last season. The newcomers have certainly been punching above their weight as they earned points against both the Manchester clubs. Currently, Nuno Santo’s men sit 10th with 9 points in the Premier League. And Neves has been the linchpin of this Wolves side.
He even scored a brilliant free-kick on the opening weekend against Everton to help his team salvage a 2-2 draw. But his commanding displays in the midfield isn’t a surprise for Wolves fans. In the Championship last year, he was a standout player who helped them win promotion with his 6 goals and 1 assist.
But it was not these goals that made him an invaluable asset to the side – it was his authoritative displays in the centre of the park. In 42 Championship games the last term, he completed more than 2275 passes with an accuracy of 85%, which also included 37 key passes.
He completed 30 dribbles, made 56 successful tackles and 71 interceptions. Now paired with Joao Moutinho, the duo is running the midfield show week in week out, providing a solid base for their attackers to express themselves completely.
Despite a strong start to the season, City’s midfield needs a surgery. The likes of David Silva and Fernandinho are on the wrong side of 30 and Kevin De Bruyne’s absence due to a long-term injury is quite palpable. Also, Jorginho’s failed transfer in the summer (h/t The Metro) should prompt City’s board to look elsewhere.
Read More:- 49 key passes and 15 tackles – Signing this 21-year-old midfield warrior could work wonders for Manchester City
Neves, at the age of 21, can prove to be the key signing who carries the club ahead for many years to come. Ordinarily, his price tag could have been a problem but City certainly have the financial resources to break the bank and go for the midfielder. Furthermore, signing Neves would not just be an investment for now, but for the future.
