Ruben Neves keen to join Premier League club if Wolves decide to sell £70m-rated midfielder

Ruben Neves would prefer to stay in the Premier League if he leaves Wolves this summer with the club ready to demand about £70million for their star midfielder.

The Portugal international has been Wolves best outfield player this term, with the club’s bid to qualify for European football next season hampered by his recent six-week absence due to injury.

Sportsmail understands that if Neves, 25, departs Molineux, his preference would be to remain in England.

Both Manchester United and Arsenal have followed the player closely in the past and while Juventus and Barcelona have also shown interest, it is not clear how those two clubs would finance the deal if Wolves stick to their valuation.

Neves has two years remaining on his contract and has been at Wolves since 2017, helping the club to promotion and then to establish themselves in the Premier League. But he is thought to be keen to play regular European football, preferably in the Champions League.

Like a number of Wolves players, Neves is a client of Portuguese agent Jorge Mendes. Neves has also seen his international team-mate Diogo Jota’s career go from strength to strength after he joined Liverpool from Wolves two years ago.

Neves’ departure would give the club’s recruitment team funds to bring in the targets identified by boss Bruno Lage.

Lage is desperate to strengthen his forward line, with Wolves having scored only 33 times in the league this term. He also wants midfielders, with Neves possibly heading for the exit and the club prepared to consider offers for Leander Dendoncker.

Lage has said players like Neves are worth more than £100m and though it is understood Wolves would not demand such a high fee, neither will they be lowballed.

The club invested heavily to secure promotion and then progress in the Premier League, but their transfer policy is now more prudent.