Pedro Neto: Chelsea agree £54m deal with Wolves to sign Portuguese winger also wanted by Tottenham and Man City | Football News

Pedro Neto has handed a medical forward of a £54m transfer to Chelsea from Wolves.

The deal, which was agreed on Friday, is damaged up into an preliminary £51.4m cost plus £2.6m in add-ons.

Private phrases have already been agreed in precept and Neto will signal a six-year contract plus the choice for yet another 12 months.

Man Metropolis and Spurs have been additionally within the Wolves winger who is ready to be launched at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, with Chelsea internet hosting Inter in a pre-season pleasant.

With three objectives and 11 assists, Neto confirmed some glorious type for Wolves final season, regardless of struggling two totally different hamstring points in an injury-hit marketing campaign which noticed him miss three months of motion.

The Portugal worldwide, who has been capped 10 occasions by his nation and was named of their Euro 2024 squad, is ready to affix Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke, Mykhailo Mudryk and Raheem Sterling as broad choices forward of the brand new season, though Sterling has been linked with Italian facet Juventus.

Neto is ready to develop into Chelsea’s ninth summer time signing – with Kiernan Dewsbury-Corridor, Filip Jorgensen, Omari Kellyman, Aaron Anselmino, Renato Veiga, Caleb Wiley, Marc Guiu and Tosin Adarabioyo including to Enzo Maresca’s squad for the brand new season.

The Blues are additionally set to signal Atletico Madrid striker Samu Omorodion in a £34.5m deal, with midfielder Conor Gallagher set to maneuver in the wrong way in a separate £36m switch.

Chelsea have additionally held an curiosity in Celtic midfielder Matt O’Riley as a possible alternative for Gallagher.

Why are Chelsea going for Neto?

Sky Sports activities’ Sam Blitz:

If Maresca goes to construct his Chelsea staff in an identical mould to Pep Guardiola at Man Metropolis and Mikel Arteta at Arsenal, then Neto is a must-buy.

Each Guardiola and Arteta depend on “one-on-one explorers” down the flanks – Bukayo Saka, Jeremy Doku, Gabriel Martinelli and Jack Grealish spring to thoughts – and even over an injury-hit spell at Wolves, Neto has confirmed to be one of many best-attacking wingers within the Premier League in particular person operating battles.

Final season, Gary O’Neil took the shackles off Neto. “Do not flip it down, let’s go each single time. Do not care for those who lose it, check him. Let’s go,” stated O’Neil final season when requested about his particular person directions to the Portuguese winger.

And Neto obliged. The 24-year-old was consistently concerned in one-on-one battles final season however most crucially, there was finish product too. Solely Kevin De Bruyne averaged extra assists per 90 minutes than Neto, who has the posh of being equally efficient on both flank.

With Mudryk, Madueke and Sterling additionally able to one-on-one effectiveness, Chelsea appear to be they’ve an array of wingers to enhance the aggressive type of play Maresca needs.

Depressing pre-season and 44 gamers – Maresca’s issues stack up

The method of a brand new Premier League season usually brings hope, optimism and pleasure. However in Chelsea’s case, is it already time to fret?

It could solely be pre-season however only one win from their 5 friendlies within the USA won’t have been the beginning Maresca, getting ready for his first marketing campaign as a top-flight head coach, was looking for.

The Italian named sturdy sides in these video games but noticed his new staff concede 12 objectives. The go to of Inter Milan – the runaway Serie A winners final season – in Chelsea’s remaining pre-season match on Sunday is a frightening prospect.

After guiding Leicester to the Championship title in his solely full season as a head coach, Maresca has been thrown into the deep finish at Stamford Bridge.

The performances have been as disappointing because the outcomes, with Chelsea’s haphazard makes an attempt to construct play from the again contributing to quite a lot of their opponents’ objectives.

Off the pitch, Maresca needed to reintegrate Enzo Fernandez into Chelsea’s dressing room following the racist video he posted on social media, whereas followers’ favorite Gallagher is headed for the exit door because the Blues’ sporting administrators proceed their youth-orientated overhaul of the squad.

Yet one more busy summer time means Chelsea’s personal web site lists 44 gamers amongst their first-team squad. But when Maresca is hoping for some respite after a tumultuous pre-season, he’ll be upset – Manchester Metropolis are the opponents for his or her Premier League opener, dwell on Sky Sports activities on August 18.

However who can be a part of the squad to face the champions? Sky Sports activities tries to supply some readability – and you may solid your vote too…

Learn Joe Shread’s full characteristic and have your say on the Chelsea squad right here.

When does the summer time switch window open and shut?

The 2024 summer time switch window formally closes on August 30 at 11pm UK time within the Premier League and 11.30pm in Scotland.

The Premier League has introduced ahead Deadline Day to hyperlink up with the opposite main leagues in Europe. The cut-off dates have been set following discussions with the leagues in England, Germany, Italy, Spain and France.