Should Pedro Neto join Arsenal in 2024?
Cameron Smith
- 1 Oct 2023 20:38 BST
- 3 min read
Arsenal are keen on signing Wolverhampton Wanderers star Pedro Neto after holding interest in the player for over a year.
FootballTransfers reported back in April that the Gunners were ready to move for Neto as they seek a player who can ease Bukayo Saka’s workload.
We understand that Neto was a top target for manager Mikel Arteta during the summer of 2022 and the Spaniard is ready to revisit his interest in the 23-year-old.
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In 2022, Neto also revealed that he was an Arsenal fan growing up, which helped fuel further reports of a move to the Emirates.
The Mirror have now reported that Arteta is eyeing up a move for Neto, although his importance at Wolves could prove to be a stumbling block in any potential transfer.
Gary O’Neil’s side have relied heavily upon Neto this campaign, and will be keen to keep hold of the 23-year-old after losing the likes of Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho this summer.
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However, Arsenal are keeping tabs on the Portugal star, who has four caps and one goal for the national team to his name.
Who should Neto join?
With the options available to Arsenal in forward areas, there’s no guarantee that Neto would be a key player under Arteta and FootballTransfers’ data analytics partner SciSports, who use an AI-driven algorithm, believe that moving to the Gunners wouldn’t be a wise choice for the 23-year-old.
Their ‘Club Fit’ model suggests that West Ham United would be the best destination for Neto.
David Moyes’ side are in the Europa League this season after winning the Europa Conference League last year and there may be space on their left flank.
Jarrod Bowen currently occupies the right wing, while Mohamed Kudus can play anywhere across the forward line. Said Benrahma is currently the first-choice on the left, but the Algerian has never fully lived up to the promise he showed at Brentford.
Everton, Napoli and Nottingham Forest are also listed as good destinations for Neto, and staying at Wolves is his fifth-best option according to SciSports.
Pedro Neto's best transfer options
| Club | Club Fit Score |
|---|---|
| 1. West Ham | 81 |
| 2. Everton | 78 |
| 3. Napoli | 78 |
| 4. Nottingham Forest | 78 |
| 5. Wolves | 73 |
A transfer to Arsenal actually ranks 31st for Neto as his playing time at the Emirates would likely not be too high given the presence of Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.
