Manchester City stepping up Pedro Neto interest

NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - MAY 25: Enzo Maresca, Manager of Chelsea, reacts as he speaks with Pedro Neto of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest FC and Chelsea FC at City Ground on May 25, 2025 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images) | Getty Images

According to Fabrizio Romano’s latest “exclusive”, Manchester City are stepping up their interest in Pedro Neto and have made “direct contact” with the player’s camp as “talks start over possible move”. It’s unclear if those talks are starting with Neto or with Chelsea, but you’d think that after we nearly took them to court over tapping up Enzo Maresca, they’d know the proper order the steps they need to take.

Speaking of Maresca, the ex-Chelsea coach is the clear driving force behind this (surprise?) move, which is apparently dependent on Savinho leaving City and going to Tottenham Hotspur. The 22-year-old winger has not quite lived to his hype over the last two years, and Maresca’s always been a big fan. (See also: Malo Gusto.)

City were first linked seriously with Neto a couple weeks ago, with Liverpool also in the picture (though their focus is surely on Bradley Barcola). Romano says that Spurs are also an option, but that seems rather unlikely. The club we never sell to have also been tenuously linked with Nicolas Jackson (who may be heading to Aston Villa eventually).

There’s no word on what Chelsea might set as an asking price for Neto, though speculation about that has been mostly in the £70m range.

🚨🇵🇹 EXCL: Manchester City make direct contact with Pedro Neto’s camp as talks start over possible move. Neto among #MCFC target if Savinho goes to Spurs while he’s also understood to be on Tottenham list as backup option. Deal also depends on Chelsea valuation. 🔛 pic.twitter.com/POaVdvToDJ

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 4, 2026

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