Reported Arsenal Target Set To Stay Ahead Of January Window

By The Editor
on 22nd November 2023

Ruben Neves had been linked with a move to north London…

Al Hilal midfielder Ruben Neves is set to stay in the Saudi Pro League ahead of the January window despite reports linking him with a move to Arsenal, The Athletic’s David Ornstein reports.

🚨 EXCL: Ruben Neves set to stay at Al Hilal in January window. Regardless of PL vote on associated party loans, as things stand 26yo not expected to leave. No approaches or talks yet + Portugal midfielder happy, settled, crucial to #AlHilal @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/ulN4MSQpEa

— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) November 21, 2023

Neves joined the PIF-owned club last summer in a move that shocked world football, with the Portuguese international proving that players far from their prime are tempted to make the move to the Middle East.

talkSPORT reported last week that Arsenal were set to gazump Newcastle United’s move for the former Wolves star as Mikel Arteta looks to bolster his midfield options.

Those reports seem to pre-empt the result of an upcoming vote from Premier League teams to push through a new rule preventing clubs from trading between co-owned entities.

Many felt Newcastle would make a loan move for Neves given that Al Hilal is their sister club under the PIF umbrella to cover for Sandro Tonali’s ban.

However, the vote was unsuccessful with clubs failing to reach the 14-vote threshold, meaning that no ruling is preventing Newcastle United from acquiring players from the Saudi Pro League.

Breaking: Premier League vote 13-7 for the motion to ban related-party loans – meaning that it FAILS to pass by a single vote (minimum threshold of 14).

Means #NUFC could sign players from PIF-owned clubs in January, should they wish. ⬇️⬇️⬇️https://t.co/dVbeBS0PJX

— Jacob Whitehead (@jwhitey98) November 21, 2023

Having said that, Ornstein reveals that Neves isn’t leaving in January irrespective of the vote between Premier League clubs with the 26-year-old happy in Riyadh.

While Arteta may be looking for a midfielder, signing a player of Neves’ profile wouldn’t have made any sense given that he operates best as a No.6 in a double pivot.

One would imagine that the boss is looking for a No.8 capable of implementing the role as seamlessly as Granit Xhaka did last term – with the recent arrival of Kai Havertz not going according to plan.