Pedro Neto to Arsenal. It’s a transfer rumour that just refuses to go away. The Portuguese star signed for Wolves back in 2019, and following a successful couple of years at Molineux, links with north London began to do the rounds.
Despite becoming one of the more exciting young attackers in the Premier League over the last five years, it’s not all been smooth sailing for the attacker. Injury problems have seriously hampered him during his time in the west Midlands.
A knee injury in 2021 ruled him out for the better part of a year after he suffered an issue during his recovery. Around six months after returning, an ankle problem ruled him out for a further four months, meaning he had missed both the rescheduled Euro 2020 tournament and 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Two separate hamstring injuries last season threatened to rule him out of this summer’s European Championships, missing around four months in total. But he returned to action and has already made an impact at the tournament.
Neto came off the bench in Portugal’s opener against Czechia to provide a telling contribution, setting up a winning goal for Francisco Conceicao in stoppage time. That has naturally caused interest to spike again.
The Wolves star was initially touted as a possible £50million target a couple of years ago, with his value rising since then. But those injury issues may mean Arsenal could secure a bit more of a bargain deal. Is it a move worth pursuing? football.london writers give their verdicts below.
Lee Wilmot
Pedro Neto is a name that seems to consistently be linked with a move to Arsenal. Yet it never comes to fruition. Is this summer the year?
He’s a brilliant talent and a player that would make any top team’s squad better, but the imperative word there is squad. Does Pedro Neto get into Arsenal’s starting XI right now? Probably not.
But he would be a strong addition to Mikel Arteta’s squad and he is, after all, looking to strengthen in key areas this summer. He might prove too costly, and too much of a risk at the price he is going to cost, particularly when there are probably more pressing areas of concern for Arteta and Edu to address.
Joe Doyle
Pedro Neto ticks a lot of boxes for Arsenal. At 24, he’s still got a lot of his career ahead of him. He has a stunning turn of pace and can play off either wing effectively – making him a great option for the left or potential back-up for Bukayo Saka – something they’ve needed for some time now.
It is tough to gloss over the injuries, but a broken kneecap and injured ankle ligaments – the two injuries which kept him out for the longest amounts of time – are freak occurrences. The issues in each hamstring are more of a concern; muscle injuries can become persistent, but whether or not they will is another case.
I think ultimately it will all come down to price. His current contract runs until 2027, so Wolves do hold the cards in terms of negotiations. It’s just whether a suitable deal could be agreed. If they could get him for around £50million, I’d pull the trigger. Any more and I’m not sure the risk/reward quite works for Arsenal any more.
Isaac Johnson
Given Neto missed 17 Premier League games through injury last season, any move would be a risk – albeit Chelsea don’t seem to mind with Michael Olise, who was sidelined for 18 matches.
The difference is, last season was a first for Olise – whereas Neto has suffered four significant setbacks in as many years. But the winger clearly has talent and perhaps a more rotational role will, for now, suit him better.
However, there are certainly more risk-reduced options out there and his reported price tag of £60million is perhaps too much of a gamble on a player who has only scored five goals in the past three seasons.
Once Neto gets a full injury-free season under his belt, he becomes a more attractive option for potential suitors. That doesn’t help Arsenal this summer though, and I expect them to look elsewhere for their left wing newcomer.
Kieran Horn
Arsenal’s transfer interest in Pedro Neto is understandable given the quality he has shown at Wolves. However the problems arrive regarding his ongoing injury issues which have prevented him from building any consistency.
Given the state of the current market though, Mikel Arteta may not get a better opportunity at signing the perfect back-up option Bukayo Saka. Given the problems he has faced, the Gunners could strike a deal for Neto on the cheap with Wolves’ financial difficulties also potentially playing a part.
While it would be a significant risk, it could be one worth taking especially with Neto’s undeniable ability and the other options available.
