Mikel Arteta is actively pursuing Ruben Neves from Al-Hilal for a January transfer, aiming to bolster Arsenal’s midfield. According to SPORT, Arteta is pushing Arsenal’s board to make a strong bid for the Portuguese player, seeing Neves as an ideal replacement for departing midfielder Thomas Partey.
With Partey’s likely exit in the upcoming window, Arteta views Neves as the perfect fit for the team. However, Arsenal faces competition from Newcastle United, who also have their sights set on Neves as a replacement for Sandro Tonali, serving a ban for breaching betting rules.
Despite interest from European giants like Barcelona, Arsenal, and others during the summer transfer window, Al-Hilal secured Neves for €55m, a sum that seemed hefty to competitors considering his expiring contract with Wolves.
Neves committed to Al-Hilal with a three-year deal and has emerged as a crucial figure in Jorge Jesus’ squad, featuring in 17 matches across all competitions, scoring twice and providing an assist. Following a defeat to Newcastle United, Arsenal rallied to victory against Burnley in their recent Premier League outing. They aim to continue their winning streak against Brentford this Saturday.