Agbonlahor to Arsenal: Ruben Neves can’t fit into your system

 

Gabriel Agbonlahor has suggested that Granit Xhaka and Ruben Neves are too “similar” and the Wolves star is not needed at Arsenal.

Reports have emerged which suggest that Xhaka is set to leave Arsenal this summer. He has agreed a five-year deal with Jose Mourinho’s Roma.

The Gunners will likely be in the market for a new central midfielder this window to replace Xhaka.

Wolves man Neves is one of the midfielders they are interested in. It is reported that the Portuguese star is valued at around €40m.

Agbonlahor has told Football Insider that Arsenal would have been better off signing Emiliano Buendia instead of Neves. Buendia has opted to join Aston Villa for a club-record fee of £30m plus add-ons:

“Xhaka and Neves for me are similar players. Both can score screamers, both can score free-kicks but can’t really get around the pitch. They can’t really get the ball back.

“For me, Neves is not the type of player Arsenal need and I think Arsenal fans would agree. Any Arsenal fan I speak to or see is devastated that Buendia chose Villa.

“They’d rather the money spent on an attacking threat. They need to maybe bring in somebody stronger to play alongside Partey in midfield. “Neves is not the sort of player they need.”

Elsewhere, Kevin Campbell has suggested that Arsenal would be getting a “crazy” deal if they signed Neves for €40m.

“What a player he is. This is the crazy thing, he was never on my radar because as far as I am concerned Wolves would never sell him.

read alsoRoma to make fourth offer to prise Xhaka away from Arsenal

“Neves is a brilliant midfielder at a good age. He can hit them from outside the box as well. That is a rare talent. He is a fine player and at 24 he still has time to develop.

“There will be some big change at Wolves this summer and if Arsenal can sneak in a deal for Neves that would be great. I think £40million is a great price for him to be honest.”