Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is a ‘huge fan’ of Pedro Neto but Premier League rivals Arsenal are currently leading the race to sign the £60 million-rated Wolves forward in 2024.
If you were to describe to us what it means to be a ‘traditional Manchester United winger’, you’d probably highlight searing pace, devastating directness, and the ability to leave opposition full-backs grasping for air. Think Ryan Giggs, Nani, Andrei Kanchelskis, Cristiano Ronaldo.
You certainly wouldn’t think to mention things like ‘ball-retention’, or a safety-first, hand-on-the-handbreak approach to wing play. The prospect of Jadon Sancho being replaced at Old Trafford by Pedro Neto, then, would feel like a refreshing return to Red Devils tradition. If Sancho is the antithesis of the classic Man United winger, then Neto is precisely the opposite.
Manchester United like Wolves’ Pedro Neto
According to TEAMtalk, Erik ten Hag is a ‘huge fan’ of the jet-heeled Portugal international. A chalk-booted, touchline-tredding throwback of a footballer, Neto has seven assists from just 10 Premier League games this season, and one suspects Rasmus Hojlund – in particular – would relish his arrival in the North West.
Hojlund, after all, went over 160 Premier League minutes without even a single goalscoring opportunity before being denied from close range against Luton Town last time out.
TEAMtalk add that, as things stand, Arsenal are in pole position for Neto’s signature. Wolves are holding out for a minimum of £60 million, and the Gunners reportedly view the one-time Lazio starlet as the ‘ideal addition’. Dialogue has already been opened between Arsenal and Neto’s agent, Jorge Mendes.
United’s hopes of throwing a spanner in the Arsenal works, then, may depend on whether or not they can find a buyer for Sancho in the New Year, Financial Fair Play limitations likely to restrict Ten Hag’s spending power.
United eye Jadon Sancho successors
“He has been absolutely incredible,” Wolves boss Gary O’Neil tells the BBC of a man back to his best after a serious injury he suffered during 2020/21.
“I am really pleased with where Pedro is at. His work rate, the way he trains, playing within the shape and structure and taking information on board…
“He is incredibly talented and physically very gifted as well.”
Another potential Sancho replacement, Villarreal’s Yeremy Pino, appears to be out of contention after rupturing his ACL this month.
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