Former Wolves defender Conor Coady has shared what he would do if he was still at the club this summer amid doubts over Pedro Neto’s future.
It’s set to be an interesting summer at Molineux as Gary O’Neil bids to bolster his squad after an encouraging debut season at Wolves.
The Old Gold improved on their 2022/23 tally by five points, with a host of impressive results signalling that the club are on the right path once more after a trialling summer last year.
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O’Neil will now aim to paper over the cracks that began to show this season, with squad depth being a key problem needing attention in the transfer window.
As well as wanting to sign players, the manager will be hopeful of retaining some of his best assets, with speculation building regarding Pedro Neto’s future.
Conor Coady says what he would do to keep Pedro Neto at Wolves
There are pros and cons to selling the winger, who showcased unbelievable form at the start of the 2023/24 campaign, with former Wolves defender Conor Coady now sharing what he would do if he was still one of the Portugal international’s teammates.
Speaking to Mark Chapman on the BBC Football Daily podcast, Coady explained the problems that Crystal Palace may face this summer in relation to losing their best players, forming a comparison to his time at Wolves.
“We thought that [losing key players] every year. Even I look at Pedro Neto still at the football club, we thought that every year with Pedro Neto, we lost Diogo Jota.”
Chapman then asked the centre-back if he would text the players asking to stay, to which the 31-year-old responded:
“100% every summer, without a doubt you want your best players to stay because you want to kick on and get better every year so without a doubt.”
Perhaps the Wolves players currently in O’Neil’s squad should take note of Coady’s method to encourage talents such as Neto to stay, with speculation rising ahead of the transfer window.
Manchester City and Newcastle United target Pedro Neto
It will be difficult for Wolves to keep hold of Neto this summer, with reports already revealing the parties interested in the winger.
Yesterday it was noted by the Telegraph that the Old Gold will ask for a fee in the region of £60m from admirers of Neto, with Manchester City and Newcastle United named as two clubs who aim to target the 24-year-old.
As highlighted by Coady, Wolves players should be doing all they can to keep Neto on side ahead of the 2024/25 season after the levels he showcased last term however, there is more to the player’s future than just his quality.
Having only managed 18 starts in the Premier League over 2023/24 due to another campaign plagued by injury, acquiring a price as high as £60m for Neto could be a proposition difficult for Wolves to deny.
The Portugal international hasn’t completed a full season at Wolves since 2020/21, with another year of injury woes having the potential to diminish his price tag, suggesting that this summer may be the optimum time to cash in.