'If I was Arsenal': Paul Merson urges Arteta to buy £50k-a-week midfielder, he's just 'sensational'

By Giuseppe Labellarte

Arsenal legend Paul Merson has urged the Gunners to push the boat out for Ruben Neves this summer.

The Highbury icon was speaking to Sportskeeda as he looked ahead to this weekend’s Premier League action.

Arsenal are in action on Sunday, taking on capital rivals West Ham at the London Stadium.

The Gunners have turned their form around to leapfrog Spurs into the top four of the league.

Mikel Arteta’s charges are two points ahead of their north London rivals with five games still to play.

Should Arsenal secure a Champions League spot, that’d give them more pull regarding summer signings.

Earlier this week, 90Min claimed Neves wants to leave Wolves, with the likes of Arsenal circling.

“If I was Arsenal, I’d be going after Ruben Neves,” Merson wrote on Sportskeeda.

“Manchester United are going to be after him as well.

“I’m not sure how Wolves are going to keep him at the club, to be honest.”

However, the Gunners – or any other suitors – will probably have to spend big for the £50,000-a-week star.

The Daily Mail has claimed Wolves have slapped a £100million price tag on Neves.

The 25-year-old’s contract runs until 2024, so his club’s hand would be fairly strong in negotiations.

But if Arsenal signed him, they’d be getting a “sensational” player, in Gary Neville’s words.

Neves is heading into the peak of his career, is world-class, and has plenty of Premier League experience to boot.

The likes of Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka, Martin Odegaard and Mohamed Elneny have done well for Arsenal.

But they do not have the depth they would like. And Neves is someone who would take their options to the next level.