Wolves are on transfer alert as Liverpool looks for a £50 million replacement for Mohamed Salah.
Birmingham Wolves transfer newsLiverpool and Arsenal are both interested in acquiring Pedro Neto.
When the transfer window opens in January, Wolverhampton Wanderers attacker Pedro Neto might be in high demand, with Liverpool and Arsenal among the leading favourites for a big-money bid.
With a goal and four assists so far this season, the Molineux man has bounced back from significant injuries and looks to be back to his best, and that form has not gone unnoticed by the Premier League’s finest opponents as the 23-year-old continues to be a clear stand-out for Wolves this year.
Who is keen?
According to Football Transfers, Liverpool are mulling a move to sign Wolves forward at the conclusion of the season, with the Portugal attacker being one of the options being considered if Mohamed Salah goes for Saudi Arabia.
“Neto is a really good player and his output would be much better in a better team,” say our colleagues at Liverpool.com. Wolves don’t have a lot of skill in the final third, but if he was putting up opportunities for Diogo Jota and others, Neto would be on another level.”
Aston Villa have apparently been monitoring the player as well, and are thought to have recently checked on his progress ahead of any prospective January transfers.
Neto reportedly also has admiration at Atletico Madrid and in the Saudi Pro League.
Neto also has a long time suitor in Arsenal, with Gunners boss Mikel Arteta looking to strengthen his squad. Attack is set to be the next area of priority, and Ivan Toney and Neto are two potential targets as the Gunners look to build a front line to spearhead their challenge for major trophies.
When could a deal be done?
Arsenal retain an interest in Neto but his growing importance at Wolves will complicate any potential transfer deal this winter, although a move could be revisited in the summer of 2024. The Gunners are long-standing admirers and he has made a great impression on both Arteta and sporting director Edu since arriving in the Premier League with Wolves back in 2019.
Neto – represented by super-agent Jorge Mendes – is a self-confessed Arsenal supporter and was the subject of a transfer enquiry that was immediately rebuffed by Molineux chiefs this summer. Arsenal have had Neto on their shortlist since the summer of 2022, but at the time a move proved to be out of their financial reach due to Wolves’ hefty asking price.
Now Neto’s stock is on the rise once again following his blistering start to the season under Gary O’Neil. Prior to this weekend’s Premier League action, Neto has registered the joint-most assists in the top-flight (four) alongside Mohamed Salah and only Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka (19) has created more big chances (18) than the Portuguese starlet this term.
Neto committed his long-term future to Wolves back in March 2022 when he penned a lucrative new contract that is due to run until the summer of 2027. Recent injuries to Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard have left Arsenal light on the ground in attack and with Gabriel Jesus yet to replicate the form he displayed prior to his knee injury at the World Cup last season – Arsenal could look to strengthen th
eir forward line in January.
Neto has the quality to provide cover on either flank – a key factor behind Arsenal’s interest. Intriguingly, Arsenal made a play to sign nifty dribbler Neto under Arsene Wenger back in 2017 during his time at Braga before he later completed a transfer to Lazio.
What have Wolves said?
Now he appears to be indispensable at Wolves and already looks crucial to their prospects this season following a challenging start to the campaign. Neto bagged his first goal of the new season in the 1-1 draw at Luton last weekend after previously sparkling in the 3-1 defeat to Liverpool.
Boss O’Neil is delighted with Neto’s contribution thus far since he replaced Julen Lopetegui in the Molineux hot-seat. “He has been absolutely incredible for the six or seven weeks I have been here,” O’Neil said. “I am really pleased with where Pedro is at. He has given absolutely everything and showed a big moment of quality [at Luton] which sums up how he has been for me for the last six weeks.”
How much is he worth?
Wolves valued Neto at £50m last season and with his stock on the rise and no need to sell him, you would argue that this would be the minimum any club would have to pay. The truth is that Wolves do not want to sell, or need to sell. But as seen with Matheus Nunes, when a player is unhappy and a huge club comes in, that can change the flavour of the water.
