Pedro Neto has emerged as late target for Arsenal.
According to The Athletic, the Gunners are looking at a potential swoop for the 22-year-old in case Nicolas Pepe leaves.
Talks have apparently been ongoing for weeks.
Neto, who is one of Wolves’ most talented players, signed a new deal at Wolves back in March and is under contract at Molineux until 2027, which puts the club in a strong position.
Wanderers apparently don’t want to sell. That said, if a serious offer comes in it’s possible the club could do business.
Ideally he will stay. Neto looked great in pre-season and could have a really good campaign in 2022/23 after fully recovering from his knee injury and getting fit again.
But Arsenal could well strongly test Wolves’ resolve.
Perhaps Wolves could try and see about getting a player from the Emirates on top of a cash bid.
Here are three players who could be worth enquiring over…
Eddie Nketiah – Striker
Wolves’ most pressing need right now is to sign a striker.
Bruno Lage has seen his side play some really good football at times so far in 2022/23. But the team have scored just one goal in the firs three games.
There is still a lack of ruthlessness in the final third.
If Arsenal want Neto, then maybe Wolves should be looking at trying to land Eddie Nketiah in a part-exchange.
The 23-year-old has scored 23 goals in 95 appearances for Arsenal and would get far more minutes playing at Molineux.
Premier League legend Alan Shearer is a big fan of his, saying in 2020 (The Athletic): “When I watch Eddie’s goals for the U21s, I see a finisher (and I love the joy it brings him). I see someone who can score with his left and his right, who gets a lot of his goals from around the six-yard box.”
Emile Smith Rowe – Attacking midfielder
Smith Rowe enjoyed a strong season in 2021/22, but he’s struggled for minutes so far this term.
Wolves have just lost one young English talent in Morgan Gibbs-White, and Smith Rowe feels like a good potential replacement.
He can play in the middle and also out wide like Gibbs-White.
He’s a creative and direct midfield player, and feels like someone Lage would relish mentoring.
Arsenal would likely be very reluctant to let their number 10 depart, but the Gunners did land Fabio Vieira earlier this summer. It’s possible there is now less of a need for the youngster and Wolves could look into potentially signing him if Neto wants to go.
Cedric Soares – Right-back
Another Portuguese signing, anyone?
Soares is another player at Arsenal who is currently down in the pecking order.
The star hasn’t had any minutes at all so far this season, and has actually missed out on Mikel Arteta’s last two matchday squads.
Ben White has been playing at right-back, and the Gunners also have Takehiro Tomiyasu for that position.
Wolves are currently a little short at full-back.
Nelson Semedo is back from injury now which is great news, and Jonny Castro Otto can also play on the right if needed.
But Jonny is more comfortable on the left, and really should be competing with Rayan Ait-Nouri.
Wolves could probably do with another natural right-back to compete with Semedo after loaning out Ki-Jana Hoever.