Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly pursuing a club record transfer cost for talented winger Pedro Neto, who is also coveted by newly-crowned Premier League winners and ambitious Newcastle United.
The Premier League season hasn’t even been finished for 24 hours, but chatter has already begun about the 24-year-old Portugal international winger.
Neto overcame an injury-plagued 2023/24 season to score two goals and assist nine others in 20 games, including key roles in high-profile triumphs over Manchester City, Chelsea, and Tottenham.
Champions Manchester City and Newcastle United are reportedly interested in Neto, although Wolves are requesting a sum of £60 million for his services.
According to the Telegraph, Wolves expect offers for Neto this summer, but “will seek a huge fee despite his injuries this season.”
Reporter John Percy adds: “Wolves are under no pressure to raise funds to avoid violating the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability regulations this summer, following their £140 million-plus sales last year.
Last summer, Wolves released high-profile players such as Matheus Nunes, Ruben Neves, Raúl Jiménez, Nathan Collins, and Conor Coady in order to comply with financial requirements.
“Yet head coach Gary O’Neil is aware that reshaping his squad ahead of next season will depend on a significant sale, with Neto admired by a number of clubs.”
Neto joined Wolves from Braga in August 2019 and has already made well over a hundred top-flight appearances for the club, but injuries have taken their toll, and he only returned following his latest nine-game absence for the season finale against Liverpool on Sunday. He is under contract until 2027.
Percy adds: “Wolves agreed a record £53m deal with Manchester City last September for Matheus Nunes and will only consider offers of £60 million for Neto. Wolves believe his value remains very high and will demand a fee that reflects his ability.”
Only last week, O’Neil admitted he would have to sell before he could bring players in this summer.
“I don’t think there will be money available to us if nobody leaves. If we decided not to sell a big player there may be some bits and pieces we can do. We have some players out on loan that have value and we might be able to do some bits. “The club is expected – in the foreseeable future, maybe not long-term future – to be able to fund itself so we need to be able to work with that.
“Of course these things can change so I’m not committing either way, but I wouldn’t expect it to be a summer where we spend millions of the club’s own money on players.
I think it won’t be the same as last year where we have to sell loads and make a huge profit, but I wouldn’t expect it to be a spending spree.”
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