There are going to be some big changes at Liverpool in the summer, with the obvious one being Jurgen Klopp heading for the exit door.
But Liverpool supporters will be hoping their legendary manager is the only one who will be departing and not Saudi target, Mohamed Salah.
Many would argue that, even for next season, the Reds have the forward players to push for the major trophies again.
But after watching Wolves speedster Pedro Neto rip apart Ange Postecoglou’s side at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, John Barnes admitted ‘I would love him at Liverpool’, as he told Premier League Productions (17/02/24 at 5:10 pm).
Gary O’Neil’s side disrupted Spurs’ top-four hopes by securing a 2-1 win, with Pedro Neto assisting Joao Gomes for the winning goal.
There is interest in the 23-year-old, with Liverpool and Arsenal keen on his talents.
Sources have told HITC Football that Wolves won’t stand in his way of leaving this summer, but they want a club-record transfer fee.
Whether that’s with Mohamed Salah staying or going, given the Saudi interest, is up for debate, but John Barnes wants him at Anfield.
Pedro Neto at Liverpool
“Look at this counter-attack, we are talking about one of the best players in the Premier League in Neto, what do you make of him, John,” asked Tim Sherwood.
Barnes responded: “I think he is fantastic when he breaks forward. You talk about him, I would love him at Liverpool, even when Jota came, I would love him.
“But he is direct, he comes back inside (for Wolves’ second goal v Spurs), picks out a good pass and this is a good finish. It’s bouncing into Gomes, it’s coming at pace. You thought he might have controlled it, but he hit it first time on the half-volley.”
Pedro Neto under Xabi Alonso
When Klopp announced that he was going to leave Liverpool at the end of the season, it left many on Merseyside in shock.
But, of course, the club have no time to dwell, they have to think and plan ahead, with sources telling HITC Football that Bayer Leverkusen’s high-flying coach, Xabi Alonso is on their list.
If the legendary midfielder does take charge, someone like Neto would suit his possession-based/counter-attacking system down to a tee.
Nathan Tella, formerly of Burnley and Southampton, is a prime example of that because, after a slow start, he has been causing all sorts of problems in recent weeks, just like he did when he assisted during Leverkusen’s thumping 3-0 win over Bayern Munich.
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