Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Pedro Neto has emerged as a 'top target' for Arsenal, according to reports.
The 22 year-old is under contract at Molineux until 2027 and Wolves do not want to sell one of their prized assets this summer, but talks with Neto's agent Jorge Mendes have been taking place for over a month, claims The Athletic. Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe could leave the club on loan this month to French side OGC Nice which would provide Mikel Arteta with the opportunity to add another attacker to his squad.
The Athletic add that after Wolves secured the impressive signings of Goncalo Guedes and Matheus Nunes, admirers of Neto could be tempted to move as a result. Bruno Lage will not want to lose an influential member of his frontline with just nine days of the summer transfer window remaining, though.
Arsenal have already spent close to £120 million this summer on five new recruits. Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Fabio Vieira and Marquinhos have all joined Arteta's squad this window and it is unlikely that Arsenal will be able to spend over the odds on Neto and they are conscious of financial fair play limitations.
Neto has started all three of Wolves' opening games this season against Leeds United, Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur, but the forward is yet to register a goal or an assist. Since joining Wolves from Lazio in the summer of 2019, he has made a total of 95 appearances for the club and has scored 11 times.
And Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has backed a move for Neto. He said: "I like him a lot. Especially the situation that he found himself in with [Raul] Jimenez being injured and Diogo Jota now playing for the other side tonight. It's not easy to have everything on your shoulders. What I like is he's not scared to beat people on the outside.
"I like it. He can cross with his right, finish with his left. He's always looking to have a go and attack the defender - always on the front foot. It's not easy to do this at such a young age, in a team where you're not often in possession and dominating games. I think he's performed extremely well."
