Although Liverpool have more pressing matters to deal with right now, talk has started to ramp up over the summer transfer window.
Before then, the Reds are still pushing to win all four trophies they’re competing in this season. There’s also the necessity to bring a new sporting director and manager to Anfield ahead of 2024/25.
Nevertheless, that hasn’t stopped rumours flying around about who Liverpool could target in their first summer without Jurgen Klopp since 2015. One of the loudest links so far has been to Wolves forward Pedro Neto. And addressing such questions in a fan Q&A for The Athletic, journalist David Ornstein says it’s ‘no secret’ that Liverpool like Neto.
“Neto is having a brilliant season and that naturally makes him one to watch in the next transfer window,” Ornstein explains. “First thing to say is there’s no guarantee he leaves Wolves. He’s under contract until 2027 and the club are on course for a much higher finish than they would have budgeted for, which strengthens their footballing and financial outlook.
“It is no secret that the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City and Newcastle United (perhaps Manchester United, too, with Dan Ashworth moving there from Newcastle) are all admirers of the Portugal international, although they may harbour some reservations about his fitness record.
“It would also take around £80m for Wolves to part with Neto, as I understand it, and that is another obstacle. So far there has been no concrete movement ahead of the summer, so it’s impossible to say where he is most likely to end up.”
Liverpool set for Neto battle
It’s difficult for Liverpool fans to shift attention to transfers just now. First things first, they have a cup final to win against Chelsea this Sunday.
With so many players missing for the Wembley showpiece, that isn’t going to be easy.
Beyond that, it really does feel like a long, long way until the summer transfer window opens. Heck, we don’t even know who will be in charge of Liverpool by then and that’s a very strange feeling indeed.
Despite those feelings though, the window will come before we know it. With so much uncertainty surrounding other areas of the club right now, the Reds need to be prepared for that.
As things stand, all of their Premier League rivals look set to be continuing under the same management next season. That could put Liverpool at a disadvantage.
That slight handicap could be especially important with a player like Neto. As Ornstein points out, the Reds will face huge competition for the 23-year-old if they do decide to pursue him.
With an enormous price-tag already potentially limiting them, they could do without being a step behind the likes of Arsenal and City.
From our point of view, we do think Neto could be a potential replacement for Mohamed Salah, should he leave. But at the same time, £80m sounds like an awful, awful lot to spend on a player who has had his troubles with injury.
There’s so much to get out of the way first anyway, but it does seem that this could be a fight Liverpool are involved in. It certainly won’t be the last we’ve heard of this.
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