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Influential agent Jorge Mendes has offered Chelsea winger Pedro Neto to Al Hilal. The news, which broke on Saturday, indicates the Portuguese emissary is actively pursuing a lucrative escape route for his 26-year-old client in the Saudi Pro League.<\/p>\n
Neto\u2019s position at Stamford Bridge has been curiously unclear since his \u00a354m transfer from Wolverhampton Wanderers in August 2024. The left-footed flanker was, however, a busy figure last term, racking up 34 Premier League appearances and 2,641 minutes in a fractious campaign. He chipped in with five goals and six assists, a return that saw him finish joint-ninth among the division\u2019s most fecund creators.<\/p>\n
Al Hilal\u2019s interest comes with little whimsy as they clearly want to strengthen Simone Inzaghi\u2019s attacking options before the window\u2019s close. The Riyadh heavyweights have already agreed a deal worth in the region of \u00a360 million for Crysencio Summerville. Also linked to Luis Diaz and Ousmane Dembele, they have a near voracious appetite for elite wide operators with proven pedigrees.<\/p>\n
Crucially, Chelsea are not trying to force Neto out, and his contract at Stamford Bridge runs until June 2031. But the Blues have not considered him one of their untouchables, and Liverpool have been keeping an eye on him with real intent. Any potential suitor would probably have to pay more than \u00a350m before BlueCo would even consider serious talks. Over the next two weeks it will be clear if Mendes can turn tentative overtures into a formal proposition.<\/p>\n
Chelsea\u2019s Attacking Overhaul Under Xabi Alonso Encounters New Setbacks<\/h2>\n Xabi Alonso officially took the hot seat at Stamford Bridge on July 1, and he inherited an unenviable predicament. The Spaniard has signed a four-year contract with the club and replaces head coaches who led the club to an abysmal tenth-place finish last season.<\/p>\n
The hierarchy have already been commendably industrious, bringing in Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa and Marco Palestra from Atalanta this summer. But equally important have been the departures, with Manchester United signing Andrey Santos in a deal worth an initial \u00a348 million. Meanwhile, Maxence Lacroix has been earmarked to bolster a defensive apparatus that buckled repeatedly under sustained pressure last season.<\/p>\n
That is not to say that the pecking order of Alonso\u2019s attackers is set in stone, though, with Nicolas Jackson reportedly eager to re-establish himself following a troubled loan spell. Chelsea, meanwhile, return to competitive action in a month, and any resolution to Neto\u2019s future will have a tangible impact on the Spaniard\u2019s tactical blueprint.<\/p>\n\n <\/aside>\n \n\t<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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