Arsenal sent clear Neto transfer message by Wolves boss O’Neil

Robin Bairner

• 21 Feb 2024 12:26 GMT
• 3 min read

Arsenal’s hopes of landing Pedro Neto from Wolves hang in the balance, with Gary O’Neil, the manager of the Molineux club, insistent that they are not in a position to be forced to sell.

Neto, 23, has caught the eye this season as he has chalked up an impressive 11 assists and three goals across 19 matches in all competitions this season.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has had a long-standing interest in the 23-year-old, with FootballTransfers exclusively revealing that this continues to burn strong ahead of the summer.

Wolves’ financial problems have led to speculation that they may be forced to sell, yet manager O’Neil has sought to bury those rumours.

“The good news on the player front is that we sold some last summer,” O’Neil told TalkSport. “We didn't sign many, we didn't spend anything in January.

“So financially we're in a place where we don't need to lose our best players - we don't need to lose any players.

“That puts us in a better place than we were last summer initially, so we can make our own decisions on what is best for the club rather than what might need to be done.

“No-one will be leaving if it doesn't suit us.”

Door not closed to Arsenal deal

The Wolves manager did admit, however, that if a club such as Arsenal takes an interest in Neto, it could be difficult for them to refuse.

“Obviously if top, top clubs come calling for players and the price is right and we think it's better for Wolves, then it will always be a consideration,” O’Neil added. “But when you're sat in this seat and you just need the team to win games, I want to keep all of them for as long as I can.”

Sources have told FootballTransfers that Wolves will expect a figure of around £80 million (€93m) for the winger.