Man Utd told to back off Ruben Neves by Wolves after interest in sealing £35m transfer this month

Posted Saturday, January 08, 2022 by Thesun.co.uk

MANCHESTER UNITED have been warned off a £35million swoop for Wolves star Ruben Neves.

SunSport exclusively revealed that United wanted to sign the 24-year-old midfielder this month.

Ruben Neves is being tracked by Manchester United - but Wolves are ready to fight for him

Neves delivered another golden performance for Wolves in Monday’s 1-0 win at Old Trafford.

He overshadowed fellow Portuguese superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes as Wanderers won at the Theatre of Dreams for the first time in nearly 42 YEARS.

The Midlanders have yet to receive a bid for Neves or Spanish striker Adama Traore, who is wanted by Tottenham.

But boss Bruno Lage said: “When you want to do the next step and every time you are selling your best players, then the next step can never happen.

"We are here with the project and our ideas — that’s everyone: the chairman, sporting director and the manager.

“The main point is to continue with the same players, try to improve them and go to the next level.

“But you know this model of football. If one big transfer appears — I can compare with when I was at Benfica and a team paid €120million for one player — you cannot say no. Or you can say no but you have to balance it.

“Do you receive the money and use it to improve the team, or do you continue with the same players?”

Lage believes Neves has improved during this season and can help Wolves get better.

The Portuguese, 45, added: “He’s very important. He’s a top player. The challenge now is to continue.

“He did very well against Chelsea and Man United, even though they were different games and there were different spaces to play.

“I am happy because he is doing the things I want from him. He’s a good player to help the team get to the next level.

"Six weeks ago we spoke to him and I challenged him to be better every day.

“I challenged him to grow in a defensive way because he needed to understand he’s a defensive midfielder, so he needs to do both sides of football and work for the team.

“And when we have the ball, he needs to understand the moment, because it’s the game with the ball that gives us the dimension we deserve.

“Now he’s doing that. Every day he has that mentality to be better.”