Bruno Lage admits he is desperate to avoid double Wolves transfer blow

Bruno Lage admits Wolverhampton Wanderers would struggle to replace Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho if they lose both of their Portuguese playmakers in the summer.

Neves is commanding huge transfer interest from Manchester United, Arsenal and Barcelona after a brilliant season under Lage. Moutinho, meanwhile, is out of contract in July and could leave Molineux four years after joining Wolves.

Wolves are already identifying potential replacements for their revered midfield pairing, with Sporting stars Matheus Nunes and Joao Palhinha said to be on their radar. But Lage hopes Wolves’ midfield doesn’t require a complete rebuild in the next transfer window.

“It would be hard,” Lage said. “If we miss one, it’s hard, if we miss two, it’s hard. They have been playing for the last three years and they know the role - Ruben is the first midfielder, Joao is the second midfielder. When I play with three, Leander (Dendoncker) also does the job.

“It’s hard to find a player like Ruben, it’s hard to find a player like Joao, and to find two who know each other like they do. I am very happy, also with Leander - I like to mention Leander when I talk about the midfielders because Leander is a fantastic guy and player, every time I need him he is ready. He is one of the best professionals that we have.

"(Neves and Moutinho) have returned to what they did in the past because this way of playing has allowed them to. We need good players, but players need a way to play to get the best out of them. I am very happy working with these midfielders because they understand the game and the strategy always starts from them."

Dendoncker, who himself has made 17 starts in the Premier League this season, has also been linked with a move away. The Belgian