ARSENAL are trying to negotiate a deal for Wolves winger Pedro Neto but will not be held to ransom for the Portuguese international.
Manager Mikel Arteta has been looking to replace Nicolas Pepe all summer and has identified Neto as a potential signing.
But after being priced out of a deal for midfielder Ruben Neves earlier in the summer, Arsenal are wary of Wolves’ demands for their 22-year-old wide player.
It is understood that Arsenal are prepared to offer as much as £35million for Neto, who arrived at Molineux in an £18m double transfer with Bruno Jordao when he joined from Lazio three years ago.
But Wolves are looking for at least £50m despite just signing a ready replacement in £27.5m Goncalo Guedes.
And that is a price which Arsenal are reluctant to pay after already spending £120m this summer on Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Fabio Vieira, Matt Turner and Marquinhos.
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They are also resigned to taking a massive hit on Pepe, the £72m club record signing who is set to join Nice on loan with an option to buy next summer for around £15m.
And Pepe’s imminent departure leaves Arteta short on competition for Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli with the extra demands of the Europa League this season.
But Neto only signed a new Molineux five-year contract in March after missing most of last season with a serious knee injury.
And boss Bruno Lage has made it clear that he wants to keep the player unless someone makes the kind of offer which the club cannot refuse.
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With only ten days remaining before the transfer window closes, Arsenal do not want to get sucked into any last-minute buying.
After winning their opening three games to top the Premier League for the first time in six years, Arteta says: “We know where we are short and where we have to add more firepower.
“If we can do something we will do it, but it has to be the right player.
We only want top quality, otherwise it’s not worth it.
“If we don’t get anyone, I’ll be totally happy with the squad I have.”
Arteta’s biggest issue right now is keeping everyone he already has on board happy after naming an unchanged team for their first three games.
With Vieira, Emile Smith Rowe, Kieran Tierney and Takehiro Tomiyasu all now fully fit, Arsenal are almost spoiled for choice.
And Arteta admits: “The first weeks of the competition are tricky because we’re only playing once a week.
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“There’s no Europa League and no cup ties, so we’re going to have to manage the frustrations of players who sometimes are not even going to be in the squad.
“But it’s a long season and everyone will have their opportunities.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
