August 20th 2024.
In a big move for the Premier League, Chelsea has officially signed Pedro Neto for a whopping £54 million. The news has caused quite a stir, with many football enthusiasts weighing in on the deal. One such person is Jamie Carragher, who openly expressed his admiration for Neto and even admitted that he would have loved for Liverpool to have him on their team.
Neto recently made his debut for Chelsea as a substitute in their match against Manchester City. The Portuguese winger has been highly regarded in the football world for some time now and has been linked to other big clubs like Arsenal and Tottenham. Despite having somewhat underwhelming stats, with 14 goals and 24 assists in 135 appearances for Wolves, Neto has had to overcome multiple major injuries, including two hamstring issues that kept him out of the game for 18 matches last season.
Carragher, known for his candid opinions, has been critical of Chelsea's recent transfer activities and even predicted that they would finish outside of the top six in the 2024/25 season. However, he believes that Neto will be the standout signing of this season. In an interview on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football, Carragher said, "But for injuries, I think this is a player that could play for the best teams in the world, I really do believe that." He went on to praise Neto's pace, quality on the ball, and goal-scoring abilities, expressing his hope that he stays fit and healthy.
Carragher's only concern is that Neto's preferred position on the right, cutting in with his left foot, is also where young talent Cole Palmer likes to play. However, he believes that if Chelsea can keep Neto fit, he will be a special player for them. Carragher even admitted to feeling down when he hears of Neto's injuries, despite not being a Wolves fan.
With the arrival of Neto and his Portugal teammate Joao Felix, Chelsea now has an abundance of forwards, leaving many questioning how manager Enzo Maresca will line them up. Other options include Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson, Christopher Nkunku, Raheem Sterling, Mykhailo Mudryk, Noni Madueke, Marc Guiu, Enzo Fernandez, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Carragher's fellow Sky pundit Gary Neville speculated that Felix, whether he is considered a center-forward or not, will play in the false nine position with two higher wide players – likely Neto and Nkunku. He believes that Palmer will play in the No.10 position, leaving one of the three midfielders – Moises Caicedo, Fernandez, or Romeo Lavia – on the bench.
We will soon see what tactics Maresca has up his sleeve when Chelsea faces Neto's former club, Wolves, on Sunday. It will be an exciting match to watch and see how the new signings fit into the team's dynamic. For more updates and analysis on Chelsea, be sure to sign up for our newsletter and follow our privacy policy. We are excited to see what Neto and Felix bring to the club and how they will contribute to Chelsea's success in the upcoming season.
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