Arsenal have allegedly approached Chelsea forward Pedro Neto‘s camp to enquire about the Portuguese’s availability in the ongoing summer transfer window.
Neto, 26, has cemented himself as a key starter at Chelsea since his potential £54 million switch from Wolverhampton Wanderers in August 2024. The left-footed star has impacted games with his pace at his side over the last two terms, successfully leaving his injury-plagued days in the past.
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The 30-cap Portugal international has started 82 of his 103 appearances across all competitions for Chelsea. He has found the back of the net 19 times and recorded as many assists for the Xabi Alonso-coached outfit so far.
Now, according to reputed journalist Simon Phillips, Arsenal have contacted Neto’s camp to express their interest in adding the player to their ranks this summer. They have identified the Braga academy product as a potential signing after missing out on Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior.
Neto, who is reportedly valued at £70 million now, could decide to leave Chelsea in the ongoing window following Morgan Rogers and Geovany Quenda’s arrivals. He has also reportedly been linked with Tottenham Hotspur of late.
Former Chelsea star states Arsenal attacker is better than £145 million-rated target
Speaking on talkSPORT, ex-Chelsea midfielder Andy Townsend claimed that Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) winger and Arsenal target Bradley Barcola is not an upgrade over Gabriel Martinelli. He said (h/t Metro):
“I don’t see Barcola at the sort of levels that others do, clearly. I don’t see him at anything like that sort of money, I really don’t. I think he’s way behind Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue personally, I think they’re far better players. I don’t think he’s got the end product in his game to warrant £145 million, no chance.”
Revealing why Martinelli should be prioritised, he continued:
“I don’t think I’d swap Martinelli for him, I don’t think I would. Honestly. Martinelli knows this division, he’s proven himself now to be a valuable member of Arsenal’s team and I don’t see that it’s that much of a massive trade-up for the sort of money that they’d need to invest in (Barcola).”
Barcola, who has allegedly agreed contract terms with Liverpool, has impressed at PSG since leaving Lyon in August 2023. He has registered 34 goals and 28 assists for his club in the past two campaigns in comparison to Martinelli’s 21 goals and 13 assists for Arsenal in the same period of time.
Edited by Debkalpa Banerjee
