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Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca has reportedly become a genuine contender to sign his ex-player Pedro Neto from Chelsea. The Portuguese winger flourished under the Italian\u2019s guidance at Stamford Bridge, and that previous connection lies at the heart of the Etihad club\u2019s overtures this summer.<\/p>\n
Liverpool are said to have shown tentative interest in Neto, albeit far less fervent at this point, while some figures at Chelsea have discussed the prospect of sanctioning a sale around the \u20ac80 million mark. It is not the sort of player the Blues would normally even entertain selling, but they would be willing to discuss it if the price is right.<\/p>\n
Under the Italian, Neto recorded 27 goals and assists, while his time at Stamford Bridge overall earned him 19 goals and 19 assists in 103 games after his \u00a354m signing from Wolves two years ago.<\/p>\n
City are not yet ready to meet Chelsea\u2019s asking price of about \u00a375 million, with the club\u2019s recruitment department also monitoring RB Leipzig\u2019s Yan Diomande and Paris Saint-Germain\u2019s Ibrahim Mbaye. However, a long negotiation is in prospect before the close of the window.<\/p>\n
Chelsea Boss Xabi Alonso Rules Over a Thoroughly Recalibrated Squad<\/h2>\n The Portuguese international\u2019s predicament is intertwined with the total transformation underway in west London. Chelsea appointed Xabi Alonso as manager on a four-year deal, with the Spaniard officially taking over on July 1, 2026. His arrival is bound to alter the internal hierarchy that Neto so comfortably occupied.<\/p>\n
Alonso\u2019s first window has been marked by ambition and pragmatism in equal measure. Chelsea have generated around \u00a3130 million from the sales of Marc Cucurella, Andrey Santos and Tyrique George. If you add the hefty compensation from Manchester City for poaching Maresca, these more than cover the \u00a3117 million spent on Morgan Rogers.<\/p>\n
However, the Blues will still be hampered by UEFA\u2019s strict financial constraints even if they don\u2019t play in Europe this season. That fiscal architecture explains the club\u2019s equivocation on Neto rather perfectly, since profitable trading remains their most reliable instrument.<\/p>\n
Alejandro Garnacho is off to Aston Villa, who are also said to be interested in Nicolas Jackson, with Bayer Leverkusen\u2019s Kerim Alajbegovic on the list of Chelsea\u2019s potential incomings. So the remaining business at Chelsea and whether the hierarchy are prepared to sanction another attacking exodus could therefore be crucial to Neto\u2019s future.<\/p>\n\n <\/aside>\n \n\t<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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