Chelsea Resists Man City's Formal Approach for Winger Pedro Neto

Manchester CityTeam·Manchester City has initiated a formal approach for ChelseaTeam·Chelsea's Portuguese winger, Pedro NetoPlayer·Pedro Neto, signaling a significant development in the summer transfer window. The move comes as City's head coach, Enzo Maresca, seeks to bolster his squad, with Neto identified as a prime target.

Fabrizio Romano, a prominent transfer insider, confirmed Manchester CityTeam·Manchester City's direct contact with Pedro NetoPlayer·Pedro Neto's representatives to explore a potential transfer. Romano highlighted the influence of Enzo Maresca in this pursuit, stating, "Enzo Maresca is a big factor in this deal because he knows Pedro NetoPlayer·Pedro Neto very well from their time together at ChelseaTeam·Chelsea. He's a player Maresca appreciates a lot."

Maresca, who managed ChelseaTeam·Chelsea from July 2024 until January 2026, oversaw Neto's arrival at Stamford Bridge from Wolverhampton WanderersTeam·Wolverhampton Wanderers on August 11, 2024, where the winger signed a seven-year contract. During the 2024/25 season under Maresca, Pedro NetoPlayer·Pedro Neto was a pivotal figure for ChelseaTeam·Chelsea, contributing nine goals and nine assists across 51 competitive appearances, helping the club secure both the Conference LeagueCompetition·Conference League and the FIFA Club World CupCompetition·FIFA Club World Cup. In the subsequent 2025/26 season, Neto continued to feature prominently, playing 51 games (42 starts) and registering 10 goals and nine assists, despite experiencing a dip in form from December onwards.

Manchester CityTeam·Manchester City's interest in Neto is reportedly contingent on the potential departure of their current winger, SavinhoPlayer·Savinho, who is a target for Tottenham HotspurTeam·Tottenham Hotspur. City views Neto as an "ideal opportunity" and a player they rate highly, according to Romano. The Citizens have already been active in the transfer market this summer, bringing in Mathys DetourbetPlayer·Mathys Detourbet from TroyesTeam·Troyes for £21.5 million, Elliot AndersonPlayer·Elliot Anderson from Nottingham ForestTeam·Nottingham Forest for £116 million, Pierce Charles from Sheffield Wednesday for £3 million, and Jeremy MongaPlayer·Jeremy Monga from LeicesterTeam·Leicester for £12.5 million.

Despite Manchester CityTeam·Manchester City's overtures, ChelseaTeam·Chelsea's stance remains firm. Romano emphasized that "Pedro NetoPlayer·Pedro Neto is not on ChelseaTeam·Chelsea's list of players for sale and remains part of Xabi AlonsoCoach·Xabi Alonso's plans." Xabi AlonsoCoach·Xabi Alonso took over as ChelseaTeam·Chelsea manager after Maresca's departure in January 2026, with the club finishing tenth in the Premier LeagueCompetition·Premier League last season. ChelseaTeam·Chelsea reportedly values the 26-year-old winger at £70 million but is open to negotiations should an "important offer" materialize. The club has largely retained its key players this summer, with Marc CucurellaPlayer·Marc Cucurella being the only starter to depart so far, and players like Joao PedroPlayer·Joao Pedro and Cole PalmerPlayer·Cole Palmer declared untouchable.

While contacts with Neto's representatives are ongoing and the player is reportedly open to the move, the ultimate outcome hinges on financial negotiations. Tottenham HotspurTeam·Tottenham Hotspur is also monitoring the situation, considering Pedro NetoPlayer·Pedro Neto as a backup option should their primary pursuit of SavinhoPlayer·Savinho prove unsuccessful.