City gives up on Neto after rival agreement

Manchester City's leadership has ultimately decided against signing Pedro Neto, a Chelsea player whom manager Enzo Maresca knows well from their time together at Stamford Bridge. According to reports, the Citizens had considered several Blues players, but their interest in the Portuguese winger now appears to have faded. City had, however, closely monitored the possibility of bringing in Neto, who is 26 years old.

An agreement between Chelsea and Al Hilal

A Saudi source, Sada, reveals that Al Hilal has reached an agreement with Chelsea, both on personal terms and between the two clubs. The news was confirmed by Italian journalist Gianluigi Longari on the X platform (formerly Twitter). Longari also notes that Savinho, a City player, could serve as an alternative to Neto. The Brazilian is strongly linked with Tottenham Hotspur, suggesting that the Citizens may have proposed a swap deal to secure the Portuguese winger. Additionally, Al Hilal is in talks with Aston Villa over Ollie Watkins, while Galatasaray remains in the running to sign Victor Osimhen, a target of Arsenal. Finally, City is still interested in Enzo Fernández, a player Maresca would like to reunite with after their collaboration in London.

Neto on the brink at Chelsea

Chelsea has not shown great enthusiasm for selling Neto but appears more open to the idea, according to *FourFourTwo*. The player joined the Blues in 2024 from Wolverhampton Wanderers after three injury-plagued seasons at Molineux. Despite these setbacks, he managed to play 51 and 52 matches in his first two full seasons, totaling 103 appearances. However, his performances have often fallen short, with just 19 goals scored in competition. His versatility, playing on both wings, has not helped him secure a consistent starting spot. With the arrival of Morgan Rogers and Xabi Alonso’s likely preference for a three-at-the-back system, Neto may no longer have a place in the London side. Valued at €60 million by Transfermarkt, he could leave Stamford Bridge as early as this weekend during the Premier League clash against Fulham. Despite abandoning the Neto track, Manchester City continue to monitor other profiles. Enzo Fernández remains a priority target for Maresca, who wants to reunite with him after their time together at Chelsea. The Citizens' management could therefore turn to other options to strengthen their squad, particularly in defense or midfield. Transfer rumors are multiplying, but the club's leaders now seem to favor internal solutions or players ready to join quickly.