Ruben Neves’ skills and strengths which make him Man Utd and Arsenal target

Ruben Neves was linked with a summer switch away to Man Utd, Arsenal and Liverpool and is arguably Wolves’ biggest potential revenue-generating transfer if they decide to sell

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Bruno Lage was boss at Benfica when they cashed in on midfielder Joao Felix for around £113million to Atletico Madrid.

Lage admitted last week that sometimes it is best for the team to sell a player and reinvest in up to four new players instead.

It raised the possibility of Wolves doing something similar to build a bigger, better squad in January as Chinese owners Fosun aim to make the club self-funding.

But who could Wolves sell to raise the most money next month?

England defender and Wolves captain Conor Coady,28, would obviously be a candidate.

So would Portuguese prospect Pedro Neto,21, were it not for a broken patella which has sidelined him since April.

Adama Traore’s contract is due to run out in 18 months’ time which has reduced his price tag.

So I think you have to conclude Ruben Neves could potentially generate the most cash.

The Portuguese midfielder,24, was linked in the summer with Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool.

He has remained at Molineux where he is under contract until 2024 since signing from Porto for £15.8m in July 2017.

The ace has only one goal this term but boss Lage explained recently how the star is developing another side to his game this season.

Lage’s switch to a 3-4-3 formation has taken a central midfielder out of the side with Leander Dendoncker often missing out from predecessor Nuno Espirito Santo’s old 3-5-2 line-up.

It has left Neves and compatriot Joao Moutinho,35, together in the middle in a two-man central midfield either side of wing-backs.

And right-footed midfielder Neves has thus found himself in a more expansive, energetic role.

Neves’ strengths are with the ball where he has an eye for a pass and a goal, including long-range strikes both from set pieces and open play.

It has helped him score 12 goals in 123 Premier League games for Wolves.

But now Lage is calling on Neves to do more out of possession too which he reckons could help him further his career for club and country, where he has 26 caps.

Lage explained: “Since the first day I challenged Ruben to think about his life and his career.

“He is 24 and is in the best stage to understand he needs to give another dimension to his game.

“I know him and when we have the ball he knows everything.

“So he needs to work hard in the defensive way to control in the middle.

“To think like: ‘the middle is my space and I need to control it and be the best man in there’.

“We have a top player and top man.

“He can achieve different things in his career.

“I think he can do special things in his career not just for the club but also in the national team.

“The challenge for him is to improve and get better.

“Because if he becomes a more solid player he can achieve good things for his career.”