Liverpool pivot to Chelsea’s Pedro Neto via Jorge Mendes after seeing a €100m bid for RB Leipzig starlet Yan Diomande knocked back.
Liverpool’s search for a high-profile wide attacker has taken a significant hit following the collapse of their pursuit of Yan Diomande. The 19-year-old Ivorian starlet has opted against a move to Anfield, dealing a blow to sporting director Richard Hughes’ summer transfer strategy.
The Reds had made a substantial play for the RB Leipzig winger, launching an aggressive package that could have reached a total valuation of €100m. However, the Bundesliga outfit who currently hold the Côte d’Ivoire international under contract until 2030 swiftly knocked back the approach.
Before Liverpool could weigh up a structured second bid, any hopes of reviving the deal were effectively extinguished. It emerged that Diomande has instead set his sights on a move to Paris Saint-Germain, leaving Anfield officials to activate their contingency plans. The vacancy on the right flank remains a pressing issue for the club this summer, following the departure of Mohamed Salah.
With the generational gap left by Salah looming large, Liverpool have been forced to look lower down their shortlist. The recruitment team has spent recent weeks tracking a profile of younger talent, with heavily linked names including Yankuba Minteh, Matias Fernandez-Pardo, and Viktoria Koln’s highly-rated youngster Said El Mala.
According to journalist Dave Davies on The Transfer Show, Liverpool have turned their attention toward Chelsea’s Portugal international, Pedro Neto.
The 26-year-old only moved to Stamford Bridge from Wolves in 2024 for a fee eclipsing £50m, signing a long-term contract until 2031.
He registered five goals and six assists in 30 Premier League starts for the West Londoners last term. Crucially, with Chelsea failing to qualify for European football, financial pressures could dictate an unexpected sale and Neto may be deemed expendable.
The Reds have long been admirers of the livewire forward, having intensely scouted him during his five-year stint at Molineux. Now, a deal could be back on the table, largely aided by Liverpool’s historical relationship with a certain high-profile agent.
“Liverpool are now on the alternate list,” Davies reported. “Liverpool seem to be back in bed with Jorge Mendes, whose client is Pedro Neto.”
“Our info is getting this stood up today. Neto would jump at this. They nearly did him when he was at Wolves.”
Neto’s willingness to make the switch to Merseyside provides Hughes with a ready-made, Premier League-proven solution, though matching Chelsea’s valuation and navigating his previous injury record will require careful negotiation as Liverpool look to rebuild their post-Salah attack.