Wolves have identified Aleksandar Mitrovic as a summer target with the Newcastle United striker's future hanging in the balance, according to reports.

Mitrovic has been in sensational form on loan at Fulham since January, scoring 12 goals in 13 games for the promotion-chasing side including one against Wolves at Craven Cottage in February.

Newcastle will start the bidding at £20million for the 23-year-old who has earned plenty of admirers in the Premier League.

And Wolves are among the clubs keeping close tabs on Mitrovic's situation, according to ChronicleLive.

It is claimed that Toon cheif Rafa Benitez does not consider Mitrovic as part of his plans for next season and will look to sell him this summer, despite the Serbia international's goal return for Fulham.

Brighton had an offer turned down in January and Newcastle are looking to bank a substantial profit on the £13million fee they paid to Anderlecht in 2015.

Wolves want to strengthen for their Premier League campaign after winning the title.

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They have an option to buy Bournemouth loan forward Benik Afobe.

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It was a transfer that got Wolverhampton Wanderers fans understandably excited in the summer window, writes Joseph Chapman.

Thankfully, Ruben Neves has lived up to expectations - and then some.

The Portuguese wunderkind swapped Champions League for Championship last summer to reunite with Nuno Espirito Santo and ignite Wolves’ push for the Premier League.

Despite his tender years, central midfielder Neves arrived at Molineux with experience aplenty having broken into the first team with Porto.

For a player so young, it was a significant move. The burden of the price tag - making him the club’s record signing, as well as the most expensive ever player in England’s second tier - hasn’t appeared to faze him at any point.

Inevitably in the modern game - despite Wolves’ success and Premier League football to come - there’s been speculation surround his future.

Neves, were he to be sold tomorrow, would fetch at least three times what Wolves paid for him.

How does the land lie?

THE SEASON SO FAR

There have been a few rash moments - he’s been suspended on three separate occasions for accumulating yellows and seeing red - but they’ve been largely overshadowed by his glorious ability to pick a pass and score from range.

A number of times this season Neves has left fans in either stand behind the goal with their mouths wide open as he’s fired in a goal from 30 yards or more.

The strike against Derby recently, where he had to correct himself after slightly mis-controlling, before thundering in a volley beyond Scott Carson was borderline outrageous.

Strikes against Hull and Sheffield United, too, were memorable.

Neves topped off the promotion celebrations recently by joining teammates John Ruddy and Conor Coady in the official team of the season.

Rather than suffer with the weight of expectation on his shoulders, Neves has actually shown the complete opposite - he’s thrived and excelled.

LINKS AWAY

Of course, Wolves will have no immediate plans to part with Neves.

Along with fellow youngsters Morgan Gibbs-White and Rafa Mir, Neves is signed up for the long-term - the midfielder signed a five-year contract upon arrival and of course still has four years to run on that deal.

With Premier League football to come, and surrounded by his compatriots who have all settled in Wolverhampton, it’s unlikely too that Neves himself would be keen to leave at the first opportunity.

The level of clubs being linked with moves says much of the player himself, though. Manchester United, searching for a long-term replacement for the retiring Michael Carrick, are said to be interested.

As too are Liverpool and AC Milan.

WHAT NUNO HAS SAID

“He can improve a lot. Ruben is not the same player he was when he came here. He’s better now and I expect him to be a lot better in the future.

“He has a lot to improve on. He’s 21. It’s good for us because we have players of the same age and even older players are getter better – the window of learning is never closed.

“We are fortunate to have these talents but what makes these opportunities are the rules and order of the team, the control, all these things that maybe people don’t se allow us to enjoy and take advantage of these kind of moments.

“We still have a long way to go and Ruben knows he has a lot to improve.”

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WHAT NEVES HAS SAID

“It was the best step in my career – also the first.

“Honestly, I think it was a great decision. I regret nothing and I’m more sure than ever that it was the best for me.

“I don’t remember that [the price tag] in my everyday living. That’s more a press thing and doesn’t influence me at all.

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“I don’t have any time to think about that.

“I was (made to feel) welcome. In any team one or another player doesn’t show you confidence but that’s not the case at Wolves. We’ve a great group.”