Liverpool news: This Wolves 'superstar' is good enough to play for Reds - Collymore
RUBEN NEVES is good enough to play for Liverpool, not just in the future but right now, according to Stan Collymore.
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The Wolves talisman has been crucial to their promotion back to the Premier League this season with six goals, all from outside the box, in 39 appearances.
That's after the West Midlands outfit’s links with super agent Jorge Mendes helped them secure a shock Championship-record £15.8million deal for the 21-year-old, once billed as Porto’s brightest up-and-coming talent, last summer.
The Portugal international has enjoyed an excellent maiden campaign in England to repay the fee Wolves splashed on him a year ago, with Nuno Espirito Santo's side on course to claim the title alongside their top-flight return.
And the size of Neves' impact means former Reds attacker Collymore - who came through Wolves’ academy - reckons the midfielder could even play for Jurgen Klopp’s side, who are in the semi-finals of the Champions League.
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In Ruben Neves, who is only 21, they have a player who could be a superstar. I could see him being at Liverpool now.
"Not only can Wolves stay up in the Premier League next season but they could do it with the team they've got now," Collymore wrote in his Daily Mirror column.
"Their technical ability is exceptional and in Ruben Neves, who is only 21, they have a player who could be a superstar. I could see him being at Liverpool now.
“They have the money and contracts to not just be a bottom-half side, saying: 'Let's stay in the Premier League,' but one that could finish somewhere between ninth and 12th place.
"They have the stadium and infrastructure to be a Premier League side for some time."
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Liverpool are likely to be in the market for a midfielder this season with Napoli’s Jorginho named as a major target for the Reds.
Emre Can is increasingly likely to leave with his contract expiring in July, while Naby Keita will arrive from RB Leipzig but should assume the creative role left behind by Philippe Coutinho.
But with the expected difficulty of trying to sign Italian holding midfielder Jorginho - who has also been linked to several other European clubs - Neves' displays in the Championship could see him emerge as a potential target.
Neves - who also been linked to Manchester United and Chelsea among others - has however quashed speculation of a summer exit.
At the EFL end-of-season awards, he declared: “I would like to stay. Honestly, I love to play here. I am really happy here. I have it all to stay, but in football, we never know.”