An Arsenal move for Pedro Neto in the final days of the window is looking highly improbable, due to the potential cost of the deal.
David Ornstein reports for The Athletic that Arsenal had hoped to bring in Pedro Neto following Nicolas Pepe’s summer departure on loan to OGC Nice, but the move is looking highly improbable now.
Wolves are reluctant to sell this summer, meaning Arsenal would need to offer a very large amount to convince them to change their minds. That level of fee reportedly looks unrealistic for Mikel Arteta’s side.
That likely leaves Arsenal looking for an alternative signing before the deadline.
Fabrizio Romano reports that Edu and Arteta will be “busy” in the coming hours and days, as they hunt for an alternative to their original target, Raphinha.
ESPN reported last week that despite the heightened speculation that Arsenal could sign a winger as a result of Pepe’s loan move to OGC Nice, the Gunners were far away from Wolves’ valuation of Neto.
Neto was tempted by the move, as a self-proclaimed boyhood fan of the club. But it was always going to be a difficult deal to do so late on.
Arsenal will keep trying to sign another winger before the deadline, but it looks like summer signings Fabio Vieira and Marquinhos might be the contingency plan.
Both players made the bench against Fulham at the weekend, and they appear to be potential alternatives to Bukayo Saka on the right wing.
Arsenal u21 coach Mehmet Ali recently confirmed that he was asked by the club to give Vieira a start on the right, and he’s also given Marquinhos three starts in the position this season.
The window isn’t closed yet, though, so there’s still a chance the Gunners secure a late deal in the coming days.