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Former Wolves ace on Tottenham Hotspur radar; Euro heavyweights ready to pounce
Kevin Lamarque-Reuters via Imagn Images

Former Wolves ace on Tottenham Hotspur radar; Euro heavyweights ready to pounce

Originally posted on To The Lane And Back
By Rohan Sengupta  |  Last updated Nov 18, 2025 2:31 AM ET

Tottenham Hotspur are keeping close tabs on Al-Hilal star Ruben Neves

Tottenham Hotspur have done well in the opening months of the new season under Thomas Frank. However, despite visible progress made, there are still some key areas that need to be addressed if Spurs are to build on their momentum and compete on the remaining three competitions this campaign.

The failure to sign a dynamic left-winger to fill the void left by the legendary figure Son Heung-min is troubling Tottenham now. So, it is not surprising that the club chiefs are prioritising the addition of a top-quality winger in January. In addition, they must also spend on a deep-lying playmaker.

This is because the double pivot of Rodrigo Bentancur and Joao Palhinha are not creative on the ball. While this partnership has stabilized the midfield and stopped it from getting outsmarted this season, the inability to dictate the tempo of play and make incisive passes from deeper areas of the pitch is hurting Tottenham. Not to forget, the injury absences of James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski cannot be expressed in words.

Ruben Neves emerges on Tottenham radar

According to reliable journalist Ekrem Konur on X, Tottenham are among several clubs interested in signing Al-Hilal midfielder Ruben Neves. The Portuguese wants to leave Al-Hilal and return to Europe in 2026, with Turkish duo Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray closely monitoring his situation.

Ruben Neves has been one of the standout performers in the Saudi Pro League since completing a shock move to Al-Hilal from Wolverhampton Wanderers in July 2023. He has tasted rich success at Al-Hilal, winning several trophies, including the Saudi Pro League title. The Portuguese international’s exploits in the Middle East have not gone unnoticed, with the likes of Aston Villa, Inter Milan, Juventus, Newcastle, West Ham and Manchester United all keen to sign him, Konur adds.

Tottenham’s interest in Neves makes total sense. Yves Bissouma is out of contract at the end of the season, and Spurs do not want to renew his deal. Instead, they want to cash in on Bissouma during the January transfer window. Neves appears to be a realistic candidate to replace the Malian international.

The ex-Wolves man would not be a marquee signing in the mould of Antoine Semenyo in the winter window, but he could serve as a short-term solution if high-profile moves stall. His ability to play as a No.6 and 8 offers tactical flexibility, whilst the Portuguese’s volumes of top-flight experience would come in extremely handy for Tottenham.

With Bentancur and Palhinha not that incisive with their passing, Thomas Frank needs options who can slot in immediately and keep the side ticking effectively. A move for the battled-hard, proven commodity like Neves would also minimize the risk whilst providing much-needed depth to the squad.

Thus, winning the race for the Al-Hilal star could prove smart business, especially if the north Londoners want to avoid being left short in one of the most important areas of the pitch.

This article first appeared on To The Lane And Back and was syndicated with permission.

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