Arsenal might have to spend as much as £80m to sign Portuguese winger Pedro Neto this summer, according to David Ornstein.
In his Q&A for The Athletic, David Ornstein answered a question on Pedro Neto’s future, with Arsenal often linked with the Wolverhampton Wanderers winger.
Ornstein began by pointing out that there are no guarantees that Neto will even leave Wolves this summer, but he added that Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Newcastle United, and perhaps Manchester United are all admirers of the 23-year-old.
But the strong competition for Neto’s signature isn’t the only catch for a potential deal.
Ornstein points out that Neto’s suitors might harbour some reservations about his fitness record, with the player’s injury absences totalling 482 days in the last three-and-a-half seasons.
On top of that, Ornstein reports that Wolves would want around £80m to part with Neto, and there hasn’t been any concrete movement on a potential transfer ahead of the summer.
Neto has three goals and 11 assists in 19 appearances for Wolves this season, so he’s undoubtedly been in great form when available.
Whether that’s enough to justify an £80m fee when he’s had such serious injury problems is another matter.
Fabrizio Romano recently reported that Neto will be on the shortlist of many clubs this summer, including both Arsenal and Liverpool.
John Cross wrote for the Mirror that Neto was one of the wingers on Arsenal’s summer shortlist, alongside Athletic Club’s Nico Williams.
The interest very much appears to be genuine, but that won’t mean much if Arsenal can’t afford to risk £80m on him.
Tell me more about Pedro Neto before he arrived in England
Pedro Neto: Rising star from Portugal to the Premier League
by Daily Cannon staff
Before becoming a key player for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Pedro Neto carved a promising path in Portuguese football. His journey from youthful talent to a Premier League standout offers a glimpse into the early recognition of his potential.
Born in Viana do Castelo, Portugal, on March 9th, 2000, Pedro Lomba Neto demonstrated a passion for football from a young age. In 2013, he joined the youth academy of Sporting Clube de Braga, a renowned club with a strong reputation for developing young talent. Neto progressed rapidly through Braga’s ranks, displaying technical ability, speed, and an eye for goal.
Professional debut and rapid rise
Neto’s talent did not go unnoticed. At just 17 years old, he made his professional debut for Braga’s reserve team on May 7th, 2017, in a Segunda Liga match against FC Porto B. A week later, he made his stunning Primeira Liga (Portuguese top division) debut for Braga’s senior team. In a memorable game, he scored within minutes of entering the match against rivals CD Nacional, becoming the club’s youngest-ever goalscorer in the league.
Loan spell at Lazio
In the summer of 2017, Neto’s potential caught the eye of Italian giants SS Lazio. He joined the Rome-based club on a two-year loan. While his playing time in Serie A was limited, the experience of training and competing at a high level in a different footballing culture was invaluable to his development.
At the end of his loan, Lazio paid €11m to make the deal permanent but Neto never made more than 10 appearances for them.
Those games, however, were enough as Neto’s performances did not go unnoticed in the Premier League.
In August 2019, Wolverhampton Wanderers, renowned for their Portuguese connections, secured his signature in a €17.9m deal. This move marked a significant step in Neto’s career, allowing him to test his skills in one of the world’s most competitive football leagues.
At the time of writing, n=Neto has made 130 appearances for Wolves, scoring 14 and assisting 24.