“I think the narrative has changed at Wolves, Money will talk but they are not in that position they were last summer when they had to sell players”- Sky journalist claims Wolves are not under financial pressure to sell Pedro Neto this summer
Wolverhampton Wanderers “don’t need” to sell Pedro Neto during the 2024 summer transfer window at Molineux, as Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth claims the club are in a healthier financial position than last year.
Wolves endured a tumultuous summer market in 2023, losing some of their top talent and head coach due to the club’s need to comply with the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules.
Gary O’Neil’s appointment as manager has made the best out of a difficult situation, with Wanderers currently sitting in the top half of the Premier League. Neto is enjoying his best season in a Wolves shirt and has piqued the attention of several top-flight clubs heading into the upcoming transfer window.
Wolves’ improved finances after 2023 fire sale
Wolves were fraught with uncertainty heading into the 2023 summer transfer window. After scraping their Premier League survival with a 13th-placed finish, a summer fire sale was required to remain within profit and sustainability guidelines.
Head coach Julen Lopetegui, frustrated by the club’s inability to add to a thin squad, sealed a mutual termination of his contract less than a week before Wolves were due to kick off their 2023/24 season at Manchester United.
Gary O’Neil was immediately appointed as the Spaniard’s successor. He oversaw the remainder of a summer window that saw the departures of Conor Coady, Raul Jimenez, Joao Moutinho, Ruben Neves, Matheus Nunes, and Adama Traore.
According to The Telegraph, in October 2023, Wolves avoided sanctions from the Premier League after generating £140m in summer sales, with Nunes’ £53m sale to Manchester City helping the club surpass their target figure.
Despite a depleted squad, O’Neil’s side are in the top half of the Premier League with ten games to go. Much of their success is owed to the form of the attacking trio of Matheus Cunha, Hwang Hee-chan and Pedro Neto. The latter has attracted the interest of some of the Premier League’s biggest clubs, with GIVEMESPORT sources aware that Arsenal lead the race for the 24-year-old.
Our sources indicate that Wolves value Neto at £80m, although bidding will likely start at a lower figure. The Black Country outfit plan to have a list of replacements in place should the Portugal international depart as expected this summer.
Sheth feels there will be plenty of suitors for Neto but indicates Wolves still hold the cards with his contract running until 2027. The Sky Sports reporter also admits that Wanderers aren’t under pressure to sell like they were last summer, which could increase their resistance to his departure. Sheth told GIVEMESPORT:
“I think there will be a lot of suitors for Neto, but he still has a contract until 2027. I think the rhetoric or narrative has changed at Wolves because when Gary O’Neil joined the club, they had to sell players. They had to raise enough funds to comply with profit and sustainability rules. That has changed because when O’Neil is asked questions about transfers, he admits that clubs will be interested in players like Pedro Neto because of his quality.
“But he’s almost saying they don’t need to sell players this time because, as far as he knows, the Wolves are in a good financial position. They’re not in that position they were last summer when they almost had to sell players. But of course, money will talk.”
