Wolves agree £54m deal, Chelsea set date to complete Pedro Neto transfer

Another busy summer is set to come to an end in the next three weeks, with big-spending Chelsea looking to add more faces to their already massive squad.

Enzo Maresca’s side confirmed a £20m move for Argentinian youngster Aaron Anselmino from Boca Juniors earlier this week. Young KRC Genk goalkeeper Mike Penders is also set to complete his move, with Chelsea adding another talented goalkeeper after luring Filip Jorgensen from Villarreal.

But while Anselmino and Penders were signed largely with long-term considerations in mind, Pedro Neto arrived at Stamford Bridge with the intention of breaking into Maresca’s starting XI immediately.

The 24-year-old pace demon joined from Lazio in 2019 and has been at Wolves for the past five years.

Since then, Pedro Neto has grown into one of the most fearsome wingers in the Premier League after making a full recovery, contributing 11 assists in all competitions last season.

Chelsea set to sign Wolves player Pedro Neto for £54m

It was revealed on Friday that Chelsea are close to signing Wolves’ number seven.

Sources at Molineux have now confirmed to HITC that the fee will be £54m. Neto will therefore become Chelsea’s most expensive signing of the year, surpassing what they paid top-flight newcomers Leicester City to reunite Mareska with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

HITC also revealed that Neto is about to undergo a medical at Chelsea. The two-time European champions hope to formalize the signing by Monday.

Neto is a fairly old-school winger who likes to play on the touchline and whip crosses into the box with his favored left foot, and he will offer something different to Chelsea’s attack.

A new dimension, playing alongside a host of inverted wide players such as Raheem Sterling, Noni Madduk and talismanic Cole Palmer. What Neto’s arrival will mean for Sterling and Marduk – not to mention the inconsistent Mihailo Mudric – remains to be seen.

However, some Chelsea supporters will be concerned about Neto’s worrying injury record.

He missed four months of the 2023/24 season with a recurring hamstring problem. Neto has missed at least 112 games in total since moving to England from Italy.

But when Neto puts those injury issues behind him, he is the kind of game-changing striker who can turn the tide of any game.

Back in 2023, Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp labeled Neto a “world-class player”.

Meanwhile, his terrifying start to last season saw Wolves boss Gary O’Neill raving about the player’s talent and work-rate, with HITC understanding he is also on the radar of Arsenal and Liverpool.

Manchester City are also interested, with Julian Alvarez agreeing a £80m move to Atletico Madrid.