Arsenal and Barcelona are both reportedly showing genuine interest in highly-rated SC Braga forward Pedro Neto and are set to pursue the youngster.
According to Portuguese publication A Bola, SC Braga wonderkid Pedro Neto is generating heavy interest in his services. The likes of Arsenal and Barcelona are both keeping a keen eye on the youngster and could be set for a transfer battle in the summer to land the prodigious forward.
Pedro Neto is one of the several highly-rated up-and-coming Portuguese wonderkids. The forward is versatile, with the ability to play on either flank while predominantly being a striker. The player has emerged from the Braga academy setup and has progressed rapidly.
That the player has already made his senior debut for Braga, bagging his first senior goal as well, at the nascent age of 17 only goes to add further hype around his talent. Internationally as well, Neto has featured up to the Under-18s for Portugal and is expected to grow into a phenomenon.
A BOLA:
Barcelona and Arsenal are set to go head-to-head over the signature of Portuguese wonder-kid Pedro Neto (17). Release clause: €20m pic.twitter.com/XVc4SISeh3— M·A·J (@UltraAutistic) June 26, 2017
His talent has drawn interest from the best of clubs as well. While Barcelona, Manchester United and Liverpool have all been linked to the 17-year-old since March, Arsenal are a new entrant to the race. Arsenal have been devoid of a world-class striker since the departure of Robin Van Persie.
Although, Olivier Giroud has been highly prolific for the Gunners, Alexis Sanchez’s short stint upfront this season proved just what Wenger and his men can do with an agile forward in their starting lineup. The Chilean may not be at the club for long and Pedro Neto can provide Wenger with an alternate tactic to Giroud, at the very least.
At 17, Neto is at an age where he can be moulded wonderfully and Wenger, with his track record of developing forwards, could just be the man to nurture the player’s talents. Barcelona, though, stand in Arsenal’s way.
Barcelona, too, need to start looking at the future, with Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi both starting to age. Also, Paco Alcacer’s inability to establish himself as a viable cover option for the forward positions may spell the Spaniard’s doom. And the Catalans are eyeing Neto as the latest addition in an attempt to solve the depth crisis.
However, recently, there were reports that the youngster has rejected advances from both Manchester United and Barcelona in order to extend his stay at Braga. Although, things take shape swiftly in the transfer window. Hence, nothing can be ruled out as of yet.
Arsenal and Barcelona are battling to make Braga teenager Pedro Neto the second most expensive 17-year-old in football history (A Bola)
— The Sportz Zone (@SportzGlobal) June 25, 2017
The player’s release clause is fixed at €20 million and Braga seem uninterested in negotiating a lower fee, with a €15 million bid from Arsenal already rejected without much discussion. Barcelona, too, are rumoured to be set to test Braga’s resolve with a similar bid soon.
But, the difference between the initial bid and the release clause is not astronomical and the clubs may finally opt to pay the entire buyout fee in order to land Neto, who may be open to a move if he is assured of a role in the first-team setup.
