Chelsea will need to restructure their squad this summer with Xabi Alonso taking over as manager. The one positive of not qualifying for Europe is that they won’t need as big a roster. So, some names can be moved on for the right offers. And it looks like that could include some of their regular starters as well.
Now, there are a ton of players at Chelsea who are adding something to the side. But at the same time, one can also recognise that they might not be good enough to be starters for a club that has title aspirations.
One name that might fall under that bracket is Pedro Neto. He was signed from Wolves for a transfer fee believed to be around £54 million. The Portuguese international has been a consistent starter since then. But he is one of those players who form fluctuates. And now, it looks like an exit could be on the cards.
According to a report, Saudi interest is high for Neto. Chelsea were open to his transfer exit in January for the right offer, but a bid did not arrive after initial talks. Things could accelerate soon.
Pedro Neto has been inconsistent since his move in 2024
Neto had started the season pretty well. Combine that with a solid Club World Cup campaign and it looked like Chelsea had finally found themselves a regular starter on the wings. But as the season progressed, his form faded away.
Now, Neto has his qualities for sure. He has a great work-rate. And on his way, he is an excellent crosser of the ball.
That being said, we do not seem him at his best often. A lot of the time, he simply does not bring enough to the table. Yes, Chelsea have worse players than Neto. But not ones who could bring in a significant transfer fee in the summer.
Chelsea will have Estevao and Quenda next season
If Chelsea are able to recoup the transfer fee they paid to sign Neto, or even come close, they need to consider his exit. He is one of those players who was expected to take the next step and simply has not.
On the other hand, Chelsea already have Estevao. Hopefully, he will remain fit next season. And Geovany Quenda is set to come in as well. So, they might have options in that area of the pitch.
As for Neto, it remains to be seen what the future holds for him. But as of now, fans are not confident that he should be part of the long-term planning under Alonso.
Sourav Mahanty
Sourav Mahanty has covered teams like Chelsea, Celtic, Real Madrid, Manchester United, PSG and more over a career that has now lasted a decade. His work has been featured on Sports Illustrated, Athlon Sports, SB Nation, FanSided, The Sportster and aggregated through Bleacher Report and NewsNow. Outside of football, he is also interested in basketball, cricket and professional wrestling.
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