You won’t be able to find a tabloid newspaper this week that won’t publish the ‘Ruben Neves to Liverpool’ story.
The 18-year-old currently plies his trade for boyhood club FC Porto and despite his limited experience has already skippered the Portuguese giants. You may have seen him in the Champions League this season totally outplaying Chelsea stalwarts Ramires and Mikel, so it’s no surprise the rumour has generated so much online excitement.
The Echo cite it in their transfer roundup, the Metro and the Express naturally rehash it, and the Mirror’s Dave Maddock tries to explain it – as if it’s his own.
“[Lijnders] identified Neves as an outstanding talent, and has recommended the midfielder to Klopp, who also had him on the radar at Borussia Dortmund last season,” Maddock stated.
“The new German manager has insisted he will not rush into the transfer market in January, dismissing the idea he will make some huge money signings by insisting he wants to look within his squad to try and fill any gaps that emerge over the coming months.
“Instead, he will make one or two signings in key positions, with left back his first priority, and the defensive midfield role another high on his to-do list.”
In fact, the link was born on Twitter, with Liverpool fan and apparent ‘ITK’ (how we despise that phrase…) Graeme Kelly announcing the news on Saturday.
Although it’s now in the Portuguese press (O Jogo to be precise), it definitely emerged via this Liverpool fan.
Here’s what he had to say:
The Rubén Neves deal was being set up before Klopp. Heard it’s as close as it’s been. Would likely move in summer window. #LFC
— Graeme Kelly (@GraemeKelly1) October 10, 2015
When I got the info on Rubén Neves I didn’t even know who he was. LFC present at his games this week. #LFC — Graeme Kelly (@GraemeKelly1) October 10, 2015
Kelly is generally respected on Twitter, as these following comments from ‘Liverpool Twitter’ prove. Normally we’d ignore a Twitter rumour, but if Kelly’s comments send Reds into a meltdown and cause national newspapers to discuss it, it’s worth us covering it as well!
So Graeme says we’ve more or less signed Ruben Neves & Saki says we want Gundogan. We are acting like a big club again & I fuckin love it!!!
— Sherlin Govender (@Sherlin_LFC) October 10, 2015
If its @graeme_kelly n @saki_lfc,then am confident Ruben Neves is ours.Wat a time to be RED!!!
— Aqwesiwusu Kelvin (@kelvinbanahene2) October 10, 2015
@Saki_LFC was told we’ve more or less signed #Rubén #Neves (haven’t even got a clue who he is). Will stay out of loan. [ Graeme Kelly ]
— LFC Till I Die (@TheLFCTillDeath) October 11, 2015
Ruben Neves has a £29m release clause, which in this day and age is actually a reasonable price for arguably the highest rated teenage holding midfielder on Europe right now.
Lucas is our only natural anchorman, and signing Neves, even if he were to only arrive in the summer, would be an enormous coup.
While we’re not going to claim any inside information, (all we’ve done is explained where the story came from), we really hope it’s true.