Report: Barcelona set to make giant January offer for Portuguese wonderkid

With the injury to Rafinha Alcântara, Barcelona now need a midfield player. Luis Enrique is using Gerard Gumbau until Arda Turan is able to play in January, but it looks as though the Catalan giants are interested in bringing in another player to improve the depth in the position. And they will go to the transfer market to do it.

That's according to a report from Portuguese media, who links the Blaugrana with FC Porto wonderkid Ruben Neves. The 18-year-old is already playing in his second season with the Dragons, and has stepped up his level of play in the beginning of this campaign, getting the attention from many of the European giants.

Premier League millionaires Chelsea have also been rumored to be looking at Neves, mainly because of the numerous negotiations made between the Blues and famous player agent Jorge Mendes. But because of his young age, it's possible that the player gets loaned if he makes a move to England, so Chelsea doesn't look like the best option.

Which is where Barça could take advantage. Real Madrid have also shown some reported interest, but they're loaded at that position, which theoretically makes a transfer to Catalonia a much better career move for Neves. He is a smart, dangerous central midfielder, who plays in the same 4-3-3 scheme used at Barça, in the role of a deep playmaker like Andrés Iniesta, which is exactly what Barça are missing.

There are two problems here: 1. The Blaugrana have a spectacular talent at Barça B in Sergi Samper, who can play in any position in the midfield; 2. Porto usually gets loads of money for their players, and they apparently want €40 million for an 18-year-old, which is absolutely nuts.

Neves has potential, though. Maybe that crazy investment now could turn into many more benefits later.

Source: Renato Goncalves http://ift.tt/1LQ7j23