Wolves have identified Ajax winger Carlos Forbs as a possible replacement for Pedro Neto this summer.
Gary O’Neil is already preparing for life without Pedro Neto as a transfer has been agreed between Chelsea and Wolves.
It’s understood that the Old Gold will receive around £54m from the sale of Neto, who will end his five-year association with the Midlands club.
Wolves are considering Ajax winger Carlos Forbs as a candidate to replace Neto, with the winger having a similar profile to the 24-year-old Premier League ace.
What Carlos Forbs did better than Pedro Neto last season will excite Wolves
Following the news of Chelsea’s deal to sign Neto, renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano noted that Forbs was on the club’s ‘shortlist’ to replace the Portugal international.
Being a Portuguese winger isn’t the only similarity between Forbs and Neto, with both players being incredibly dynamic and direct in their approach to play.
In fact, last season, Forbs actually outperformed Neto in one crucial statistic based on their styles of play, as per FBref.
In Eredivisie, the former Manchester City academy jewel averaged a take-on success rate of 45.2%, which bettered Neto’s average of 42.0% in the Premier League.
The statistic concludes that Forbs had more luck in take-on situations than the new Chelsea signing, hinting at what O’Neil could receive if Wolves are to explore a deal for the Ajax ace.
Gary O’Neil could strike gold by signing Forbs
Still only 20 years old, Forbs has an astoundingly high ceiling, as seen by his numbers not only in Eredivisie but at youth level also.
Over the 2022/23 campaign, the Portuguese starlet contributed to a mammoth 47 goals in only 33 appearances for Manchester City’s academy, telling of his stature on the wing.
Last summer, analyst Ben Mattinson described the Wolves target as having ‘frightening’ ability, backing him to ‘explode’ at senior level ahead of his move to Ajax.
The forward showed bright signs during his first season in Amsterdam, with his talent more than capable of being transferred to the Premier League to then be nurtured by O’Neil.
Being a left-footed winger, it would be fascinating to see Forbs in action at Molineux on the right side of attack, where he could possibly replace Neto if the Midlands club can strike a deal for the 2004-born star.