Chelsea set high Pedro Neto price as Manchester City weigh up move

Manchester City’s reluctance to meet Chelsea’s valuation of Pedro Neto could give Arsenal the opportunity to make a serious move for the Portugal winger.

Neto is understood to be one of the leading targets for City’s new manager, Enzo Maresca, who is keen to reunite with the 26-year-old at the Etihad Stadium. According to Metro, Maresca views Neto as the ideal replacement for Savinho, who recently joined Tottenham.

Maresca and Neto worked together effectively during their time at Stamford Bridge, and the manager is reportedly eager to link up again with the former Wolverhampton Wanderers player.

Chelsea, however, are happy with Neto and believe he can play an important role under their new manager, Xabi Alonso, according to Fabrizio Romano. The club would therefore demand a substantial fee if they decided to sell the player.

Chelsea would also be seeking a significant profit on the £54m they paid Wolverhampton Wanderers for Neto two years ago. At present, there is understood to be a “huge gap” between what Manchester City are prepared to pay and Chelsea’s asking price.

A similar situation surrounds Enzo Fernandez, who has also been linked with a move to Manchester City. Chelsea are refusing to reduce their £120m valuation of the midfielder and would prefer to keep their captain.

City’s hesitation over Neto could create an opening for Arsenal, who are looking for a left winger and previously showed interest in the player when he was close to leaving Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The Gunners have already signed Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge this summer. Tzolis has made an encouraging start with the Premier League champions, producing several impressive performances during pre-season, but manager Mikel Arteta remains keen to strengthen his attack further.

It is not yet clear whether Arsenal will submit a formal offer for Neto. The north London club have regularly recruited from their London rivals in recent years, but former Arsenal player Jeremy Aliadiere has urged them to consider less expensive alternatives after their failed attempt to sign Vinicius Junior.

Aliadiere believes Arsenal must balance their ambitions in the transfer market with their financial position. He questioned whether spending about £150m on another winger would be the most suitable option for the club.

He nevertheless considers Neto a good choice because of the player’s extensive experience in the Premier League. Aliadiere also stressed that Arsenal must take into account the £40m already spent on Tzolis, who plays on the left wing.

His view is that Arsenal should retain as many options as possible while assessing the financial implications of any further move. That could leave the club weighing Neto’s proven Premier League record against the cost of completing a deal that Chelsea are not willing to discount.

For now, Manchester City’s position remains central to the situation. If they decide not to bridge the difference between their valuation and Chelsea’s demands, Arsenal may have a clearer path to pursue the winger.