“The future and long-term ambitions are not important,” said Wolves winger Pedro Neto in October when asked about his future with Arsenal links.
A day later, the Molineux man left the pitch on a stretcher after suffering a serious thigh muscle injury. He scored an assist in the 2-2 draw with Newcastle, meaning he has now scored eight goals in as many Premier League games.
However, he did not play until 30 December, which actually looked good to Gary O’Neill, who feared he would be out for a long time. Unfortunately, Neto is no stranger to the physiotherapy room.
In April 2021, the Portuguese star injured his kneecap and was off the pitch for 10 months. Then, last season, an ankle injury sidelined him between September 2022 and March 2023.
Now Neto has suffered another problem after a recurring hamstring issue forced him to play in the 2-1 loss to Fulham at the weekend.
This is a bitter blow not only to Wolves but also to the hopes of a summer move for the big man. Arsenal are still rumoured to be interested in the 24-year-old, who has made five caps and scored one goal for his country.
Wolves may ultimately be forced to sell Neto no matter what happens. They are reportedly close to breaking the Premier League’s spending limits, although they will not incur any fees this season.
Mikel Arteta may think twice before making a bid for Neto. The striker, who has more than three years left on his current contract, will want to play regular football.
Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard would be ahead of him, but Gabriel Jesus has shown he can play as a winger if required. More importantly, Arteta may fear that he will not get enough money at a time when FFP is tight.
🚨🚨| Arsenal are leading the race to sign Pedro Neto this summer. Wolves are hoping to secure a fee in the region of £80million. Tottenham and five other PL clubs are interested in him.
(GIVEMESPORT) pic.twitter.com/YcDh8yNwl4
— afcsphere (@afcsphere) March 14, 2024
Neto’s injury problems will be a concern and Arteta will not want to be without an expensive signing for a long time. Alternatively, he may need to pay more attention to other areas of the squad.
It is expected that a central striker will be sought, while another central striker and possibly a backup centre could be on the list of candidates. The purchase of another winger seems unnecessary at the moment, although Reiss Nelson is expected to leave the Emirates Stadium at the end of the season.
However, even if a winger was high on the agenda, Neto’s three goals and 11 assists in 23 games this season are unlikely to make up for his injuries, which is a shame for the player.
Contrary to his statement in October, his long-term ambitions will be important to him. He may want to move to a Champions League club, but it seems unlikely that Arsenal would be the club to make him an offer in the current circumstances.
