O’Neil can replace Pedro Neto with an exciting academy talent.
Although Wolverhampton Wanderers did not make any additions on deadline day, Gary O’Neil’s top priority was to keep his excellent players from being plucked away by stronger teams.
During the summer transfer window, the Old Gold had shipped Nathan Collins and Ruben Neves to Brentford and Al-Hilal, respectively, and sold Matheus Nunes to Manchester City.
This hasn’t diminished their aspirations, though, as the team is now in tenth place in the Premier League standings and should be able to contend for a strong top-half finish at the end of the campaign.
But can O’Neil repel the vultures this summer? He will need to exercise caution, though, as a few players on his squad are drawing notice for their outstanding play so far in the 2023–24 campaign.
One name that might advance to bigger and better things sooner rather than later is Pedro Neto. When he finally does leave the Midlands, the issue is, how much money can the Molineux outfit make for him?
Teams interested in signing Pedro Neto
The Portuguese winger was considered a future star who may excel in the English premier league when he joined the team in 2019 from Lazio.
Neto was a vital element of the team under Nuno Espírito Santo and Bruno Lage for the next three seasons, recording 11 goals and 12 assists. His performance even earned him respect on a national level in Portugal.
He missed out on Portugal’s 2022 World Cup team due to an injury that kept him out of the game for a significant portion of the 2022–2023 season. Although he was able to return before the end of the season, it took him some time to get back to full fitness.
Arsenal and Manchester City are reportedly vying for his signing, and the allure of playing in the Champions League might be too great to resist, according to Football Transfers.
Given that the contract doesn’t expire until 2027, the Old Gold will be in a good position to negotiate the greatest price for one of its valuable assets.
Given the season he’s had, if O’Neil is traded this summer, the team might make an incredible profit.
Pedro Neto’s campaign stats
The 23-year-old made significant progress in his fitness during the preseason, and from August to October, he recorded one goal and seven assists, demonstrating an outstanding comeback in the top division.
He missed eight games due to a hamstring injury, but since then, he has added two more goals and three assists.
He does, in fact, rank third on the team for goals and assists in the top division (ten), second for major chances created (six), first for crucial passes made per game (2.3), and second for successful dribbles made per game (1.9), all of which amply demonstrate the significant impact he is making on the team.
| Pedro Neto’s Premier League stats since August 2022 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Metric | 2022/23 | 2023/24 |
| Goals | 0 | 2 |
| Assists | 0 | 8 |
| Key passes per game | 1.2 | 2.3 |
| Big chances created | 4 | 6 |
| Successful dribbles per game | 1 | 1.9 |
If O’Neil decides to leave the Midlands in the summer, will he look to find a replacement on the transfer market? Or is it possible for him to go further into the academy and offer Tyler Roberts, a right-winger who is flourishing, additional opportunities?
Pedro Neto has a replacement in the academy
Roberts hasn’t made his Wolves senior debut yet, but he’s made a mark in the U18 and U21 squads over the past two years.
Roberts, who can play center forward or on either wing, scored 16 goals in just 37 games for the younger age group. Although he only scored five goals in 30 games after making the switch to the U21 team, there is no denying his talent.
The young player extended his contract with the Midlands team in April of last year, pledging to stay there until at least the summer of 2025. Jon Hunter-Barrett, the Academy manager for football, was pleased with the signing of the young player’s new contract and commended his qualities.
“We’re ecstatic to see Tyler sign a contract extension with the Wolves. We wanted to make sure he had a future at Wolves because he’s an exciting player who draws crowds.
Everyone is excited about him because he approaches football with drive, intensity, and excitement. Although Tyler’s speed and skill will draw others in, he also possesses a great desire to study and get better. He is eager to learn and is highly coachable.
After turning professional at the Old Gold, the winger even made his debut for Jamacia on the international scene. O’Neil then loaned him to Doncaster Rovers for the first part of the 2023–24 season.
15 appearances in all competitions for the League Two side proved that senior football was a considerably harder challenge than performing in the Premier League 2, however he did exude glimpses of his ability throughout a few games.
Even though he only started two games for Doncaster in the fourth tier, he nevertheless averaged 0.8 successful dribbles, one huge chance created, and 0.5 shots taken per game, showing that he definitely has the drive to create opportunities.
Roberts showed off his wing skills in an EFL Cup encounter against Hull City in August. He collected 50 touches, made one crucial pass, won eight of his 14 ground duels, and was fouled four times, making it difficult for the opposing defense to keep quiet.
Even though he didn’t score in his time in League Two, the experience could come in handy in the future, particularly if O’Neil decides to give him his senior debut before the end of the current campaign.
Given that Neto is still rumored to be considering a move away from Wolves, the right flank spot may become available for someone to enter and take it with malicious intent.
Roberts might not be quite at that level just yet, but with a little more improvement on the U21 squad and the occasional chance to play for the senior team in the coming months, he might be a great long-term option for the position.
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