Story by Tom Olver
Manchester City are pursuing a bid to sign Chelsea winger Pedro Neto (Picture: Getty)
Chelsea have reportedly slapped a £70million price tag on Pedro Neto amid strong interest from Manchester City this summer.
Neto has emerged as one of City’s primary attacking targets after racking up five goals and six assists across Chelsea’s immensely difficult Premier League campaign last season.
The 26-year-old joined the Blues in a deal worth around £51m back in 2024 and has helped the west London outfit win both the Europa Conference League and the Club World Cup in that time.
This weekend, he was pictured boarding a flight to Hong Kong to join up with Xabi Alonso’s squad for the side’s pre-season clash with Juventus on Wednesday.
According to The Sun, though, Neto’s days at Chelsea could be numbered and City are preparing to test their rivals’ resolve with sizeable opening offer for the Portugal international.
It’s claimed City head coach Enzo Maresca has been at the centre of Chelsea’s proposed move to sign Neto having previously worked with the winger during his 18-month spell in charge at Stamford Bridge.
The report adds that City may be forced to fend off competition from Serie A giants AC Milan for Neto, but a deal could be struck with an offer in the region of £70m before the transfer deadline.
Maresca hopes to work with Neto again at City (Picture: Getty)
Neto could follow Garnacho out the exit door at Stamford Bridge (Picture: Getty)
Milan have placed Neto at the top of their shortlist of wingers as they brace themselves for the possible departure of Rafael Leao ahead of the new season.
Chelsea view Neto as a key member of squad and dressing room but accept that a hefty bid could alter their stance when it comes to the forward’s future.
Neto’s agent Jorge Mendes has also offered Neto to Al-Hilal but the player has major reservations about moving to the Saudi Pro League and wishes to continue playing at the highest level.
Though a regular starting spot may not be immediately guaranteed at City, the former Braga and Wolves star is said to be ‘open’ to the idea of leaving Chelsea for the Etihad.
Alonso’s squad are currently in Hong Kong preparing to face Juventus (Picture: Getty)
Neto’s current contract with Chelsea is not due to expire until June 2031.
‘I’m sure that from today to the last day of the transfer window there will be a lot of links, a lot of rumours, so to be commenting on all of them, it’s going to be a hard task,’ Alonso said of Chelsea’s transfer dealings after the side’s recent pre-season clash with Western Sydney Wanderers.
‘But for sure, we need proper balance in terms of qualities, in terms of positions, in terms of balance.
‘We want to have a complete squad and we want to make a good team.’
The potential sale of Neto would help Chelsea balance the books in the wake of their record-breaking £117million transfer deal for Aston Villa and England midfielder Morgan Rogers.
The Blues have also brought in Maxence Lacroix, Marco Palestra, Danny Welbeck and Valentin Barco this summer, with veteran Brentford midfielder Jordan Henderson expected to follow suit.
Reports in Spain, meanwhile, indicate that Chelsea have struck an agreement with Rayo Vallecano for Pep Chavarria, who has been signed as a replacement Marc Cucurella at left-back.
