Manchester City are seeking to strengthen this summer – and one player who has been linked with the club in recent weeks is Wolves winger Pedro Neto.
Pep Guardiola has just won his sixth Premier League title, and will be seeking to go again in what could be his final year as head coach at the Etihad Stadium.
The boss’ contract ends in the summer of 2025, and next season may well be his last.
He will therefore want to go out on a high, and in order to do so he will be needing to make changes to his squad, with rivals likely to spend big to try and bridge the gap.
One player City have been credited with an interest in is Wolves winger Pedro Neto, who has just enjoyed a fine campaign at Molineux, albeit it was a little stop-start for him.
It was claimed earlier this week that Wanderers will be looking for around £60 million to sell him this summer, and Manchester City News caught up with HITC journalist and transfer expert Graeme Bailey to find out City’s current stance on the player…
Wolves star Pedro Neto not currently a big priority for Manchester City
Neto has enjoyed a really good campaign over at Wolves this season, although the Portuguese winger has also had injury problems.
He made 24 appearances for Gary O’Neil’s side, scoring three goals and making 11 assists. The 24-year-old led the Premier League assists chart at one point, before he suffered the first of two serious hamstring injuries.
As a result of his electric performances when fit though, there has been a fair bit of speculation about Neto’s future.
The feeling is that he could be the next ‘big’ player sale at Molineux, having been at the club since the summer of 2019.
City have been credited with an interest in the player in recent times. But just how intense is that interest? Manchester City News asked transfer expert Graeme Bailey for his thoughts about the recent speculation.
He told us: “That (£60 million) is Wolves’ ballpark figure. We know that’s the market price they would want for him.
“The conversations I’ve had and what I’ve heard… I haven’t heard City too much on Neto. With those connections there and with the agents etcetera. I think there are others with a stronger interest, I would say.
“I’m not sure a right winger ranks very high on City’s wanted list this summer, from what I’ve heard.
“He’s a good player, he’s one City are aware of and City like him. But I don’t think he’s seen as a priority at this moment in time.”
Neto would be an exciting signing, but it seems unlikely
A couple of years ago, Neto was one of the most exciting young players in the Premier League.
Sadly, the star has struggled with a number of injuries, causing him to miss two major tournaments with Portugal previously.
Neto has just been called up for Portugal’s Euro 2024 squad by Roberto Martinez, which is a suggestion of how good he has been this season when he has played.
With searing pace and mazy dribbling he would make a really exciting signing for City, and he’s someone Pep has publicly praised a couple of times in the past. And we saw him absolutely blitz past Phil Foden and Nathan Ake, before forcing an own goal from Ruben Dias to give Wolves the lead at Molineux back in September.
But seemingly, he doesn’t seem too high up on City’s list of targets at the moment.
One does wonder if the club have some reservations about the player’s injury record, which is far from perfect.
If City are indeed not too concerned with bringing in a new right winger this summer, perhaps this could mean more game time for Oscar Bobb in 2024/25.