Man City respond to Chelsea asking price for Pedro Neto amid Arsenal speculation

Pedro Neto could leave Chelsea this summer (Picture: Rex Features)

Manchester City have left the door open for Arsenal to make a move for Chelsea winger Pedro Neto.

The Portugal international is coveted by City’s new manager Enzo Maresca who has identified the Portugal international as the ideal replacement for Tottenham-bound Savinho.

Maresca and Neto worked effectively together during their time together at Stamford Bridge and Pep Guardiola’s successor is keen to be reunited with the former Wolves star at the Etihad Stadium.

Chelsea, for their part, according to Fabrizio Romano, are happy with the player and believe he could well play a big role under their new manager Xabi Alonso.

If they were to sell the 26-year-old, however, it would take a substantial fee and they would be looking to make a significant profit on the £54million they paid Wolves two years ago.

Currently, however, there is understood to be a ‘huge gap’ between what City are willing to pay and Chelsea’s valuation and it remains to be seen whether or not a compromise can be reached.

It is a similar scenario regarding the future of Enzo Fernandez, who has also been linked with a move to City, but Chelsea are refusing to budge from their £120m valuation and would prefer to keep their club captain.

Pedro Neto has been linked with a move to Man City and Arsenal (Picture: Getty)

As for Neto, City baulking at the asking price could present an opportunity for Arsenal who are in the market for a left winger and were interested in Neto when was on the verge of leaving Wolves.

The Gunners have already signed Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge this summer and although he has made an encouraging start to like with the Premier League champions with several eye-catching displays in pre-season, Mikel Arteta is keen to further bolster his attack.

Whether Arsenal, who have regularly bought from their London rivals over the course of the last few years, make a concrete offer for Neto remains to be seen, but their former Jeremie Aliadiere has urged the Gunners to look at cheaper options after missing out on Vinicius Junior.

‘I just think: Yes, we’re champions, yes, we’ve made a lot of money. But at some point, you’ve got to balance the books as well,’ Aliadiere told Metro via Football Betting.

Arsenal tried and failed to sign Vinicius Junior (Picture: Shutterstock)

‘When you think about the money that Arsenal already spent after Guimaraes’ arrival, what we’ve spent last year, plus we’ve only had Trossard leaving for money.