Wolves boss Bruno Lage has suggested and target Ruben Neves is worth as much as £100million and has opened the door for his exit this summer.
The 25-year-old midfielder, who is contracted to the club until 2024, has enjoyed another excellent season in the Premier League with his performances alerting a host of top clubs in both England and around Europe.
Arsenal have long been linked with a move for the Portugal international, while he is also believed to be on the radar of Liverpool and .
Links with a move to Old Trafford have , with incoming new boss Erik ten Hag having identified midfield as an area of weakness.
United have been linked with the likes of Declan Rice, Kalvin Phillips and Jude Bellingham as well as Neves, and Lage has made it clear that the Wolves star will not come cheap if he moves this summer.
Asked about the rumours surrounding Neves, Lage said: ‘I don’t know if it’s Manchester United or other teams, what I know is we have a special player with us.
‘What he is doing this season is very good. I think also the way we play, he can show a better Ruben, and also the way he plays puts our team on a different level.
‘When you have that player, the best thing to do is improve his salary and years of contract.
‘But who knows, when you have a top player like him in that specific position, that can defend and attack, and is a top professional and a great man, the big teams are there with £100m to buy these kinds of players.’
Likening Neves’ situation to that of Joao Felix when he was Benfica manager, Lage continued: ‘I would have preferred to remain with Joao Felix in Benfica, but 120m euros came and he left.
‘It depends on the strategy of Wolves also. That’s why it was so hard to find players in the last two transfer windows.
‘We want to find the best players at the right price and the right age to help us, then after two or three years they can give us economical profit.
‘It’s not just about Wolves, in these days which club can refuse a proposal of 80, 90 or 100 million pounds? Five or six.’
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