Chelsea: Manchester City preparing €81m bid for Pedro Neto

The Cityzens are reportedly ready to break the bank to land the Portuguese international, who has become a top attacking target for Enzo Maresca in this summer transfer window.

Manchester City are set to make a move for Pedro Neto. According to The Sun, the Manchester club’s board is preparing a bid in the region of €81 million to convince Chelsea to part ways with their Portuguese winger. Enzo Maresca, who has already coached Neto at the Blues, values his pace, directness, and ability to play on both flanks of the attack.

Chelsea could land another major profit

Signed from Wolverhampton in 2024 for around €60 million, Neto is under contract with Chelsea until June 2031. The proposed bid would allow the London club to pocket a profit of almost €20 million. However, Xabi Alonso reportedly has yet to decide whether he wants to let go of a player who has become a key part of his attacking rotation.

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The relationship between Maresca and Neto could play a crucial role in negotiations. Under the Italian manager, the Portuguese winger gradually grew in stature during his first season in London. Chelsea notably thrashed Southampton with Pedro Neto among the scorers, a match that confirmed his rise to prominence.

76 direct goal involvements since arriving in England

Pedro Neto is coming off his most productive campaign in England. The 26-year-old featured in 52 matches for Chelsea, starting 43 of them, tallying 10 goals and 10 assists. He logged 4,086 minutes on the pitch and finished as the club’s top assist provider across all competitions. Alejandro Garnacho, for instance, scored his first goal for Chelsea from a Pedro Neto assist.

Since his arrival at Wolverhampton in 2019, Neto has racked up 238 appearances in English football, with 33 goals and 43 assists in all competitions—76 direct goal contributions. With Wolves, he registered 14 goals and 24 assists in 135 matches. Wearing Chelsea colors, he has since notched 19 goals and 19 assists in 103 games.

His Premier League experience, versatility, and familiarity with Maresca’s methods explain Manchester City’s keen interest. The question now is whether Chelsea will agree to strengthen a direct rival for an €81 million fee.

Mahdi Zakaria LAZRI |

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Football web writer creating digital sports content with a focus on news, analysis and stories that reflect passion, accuracy and objectivity.

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