It’s already been a summer of upheaval at Wolves with both Nuno Espirito Santo and first-choice goalkeeper Rui Particio heading for Molineux’s exit door – and it looks like there may be more to follow.
Ruben Neves continues to be courted by both Manchester United and Arsenal, Leeds have resumed their interest in Adama Traore – who was exclusively revealed by 90 minutes recently – and are now considering downloading star Pedro Neto.
Exclusive: Wolves tempted to sell Pedro Neto this summer. Liverpool, Juventus, Tottenham among those who have made inquiries.
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The former Lazio man is not expected to return to full fitness until later this year after suffering a knee injury against Fulham in April, although his situation has done little to deter Liverpool, Tottenham and Juventus – all of whom have been warned by news of his possible availability.
With such a fantastic role of teams interested in securing the Portuguese country’s signature, we have looked at exactly what Neto can give to its potential suitors …
Pedro Neto’s dribbling ability is excellent / LAURENCE GRIFFITHS / Getty Images
The diminutive Neto is a nightmare to defend against when he competes against a man and his low center of gravity allows him to turn away from players even in the tightest places.
Although he is mainly left-footed, Neto can play either left or right, but his ability to run with the ball at speed means that he tends to look at his most dangerous on the left. Successful frontman Raul Jimenez has been a regular benefit of Neto’s seamless ability to slip past players before picking out an exact cross, but he also looks just as comfortable cutting in before taking a shot himself.
Given his adaptability, Neto would be an excellent addition to most troops as he would offer bosses to cover both wings and also have the technical ability to play something behind a striker.
Pedro Neto comes to life in the last third / CATHERINE IVILL / Getty Images
It’s probably a bit given considering the qualities we’ve already outlined, but Neto really looks his best when he’s in and around the area.
Whenever his side is in possession, he is constantly on the go to create a plot in the box, and a number of his goals since moving to the Premier League have seen him shoot in from the wing before joining a teammate. avoided the defense of the opposition.
Before their decline last season, a lot of Wolves’ success was built on a front line led by Jimenez with fast-paced edges who switched and wanted to play him, and Neto was undoubtedly an important part of their attack.
Pedro Neto stepped up when Wolves needed him last season / Sam Bagnall – AMA / Getty Images
Neto’s goal statistics are improving year by year and last season he stood up to count when Wolves needed him most.
After the shocking head injury that Jimenez picked up in November, Nuno’s side desperately needed their wide players to score more goals. While it may not seem dazzling, no Wolves player managed more than Neto’s five Premier League strikes during the 2020/21 season.
Not only can Neto score goals, he is also a creative force, which again tops the top lists for Wolves last season with six Premier League assists. They may not be eye-watering characters, but considering that he played in a largely colorless side, they are very impressive.
Who knows how much closer the drop Wolves could have been with him.
At just 21, Neto has a lot to learn in the game / Marco Canoniero / Getty Images
One of the most appealing things about a move for Neto is that he has a lot of time to develop.
There are still areas in his game that are a bit rough and there are really things he can improve on, but there is no denying the raw talent in his boots. At the age of 21, he has already been covered by Portugal on three occasions – despite Fernando Santos boasting an embarrassment of wealth in forward-looking positions – and he even scored a goal on his debut against Andorra as early as 2019.
His career statistics alone will tell you that Neto is constantly improving, and if he continues to develop at the pace he has had in recent seasons, he will be a real force to be reckoned with. If it were not for injury, he probably would have been at Euro 2020.
Pedro Neto argues with Jesse Lingard / Michael Regan / Getty Images
As mentioned, there are still parts of Neto’s games that need to be improved.
First of all, there is his discipline. In some ways, the kid has a very mature head on his shoulders – refuses to hide when things got tough last season and almost alone pulls them away from a relegation dogfight. However, he is no stranger to a yellow card and he must try to cool his fiery mood.
It is also his work off the ball. On paper, Neto looks like a perfect signing for someone like Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool given he can cover both wings and consider the success of former team-mate Diogo Jota at Anfield, but he’s not working close enough to do so. at Liverpool.
In the name of justice, the two main points he needs to work on are very similar – it all comes down to discipline. It’s no surprise to hear that some of Europe’s elite clubs are chasing Neto’s signature, and a move from Wolves this summer would not be a complete surprise despite his current injury.
