Pedro Neto is set to be sidelined until February after the Wolves winger suffered a setback in his recovery from injury, according to The Athletic, dashing Liverpool’s transfer hopes.
The Portuguese missed the start of the Premier League season on Saturday after fracturing his kneecap against Fulham in April. Wolves initially expected the 21-year-old would return to action around October, but are now set to be without the forward deep into the term.
Neto suffered a setback in his recovery that could force Wolves to act in the final weeks of the window. Head coach Bruno Lage already wanted two more arrivals at Molineux before the August 31 deadline. He is juggling a large and growing injury list in the West Midlands.
Neto was set for a big year under Lage this season after the Portuguese replaced Nuno Espirito Santo at Wolves. He has introduced a more attack-minded set-up at Molineux that should suit the winger’s style. Neto already enjoyed his best year yet at the club last term.
The Braga product more than doubled his game time in Premier League fixtures from 926 minutes to 2,560. The dynamic forward also scored two more goals and offered three more assists while starting 21 more fixtures. Neto’s efforts were so impressive that the Wolves star even caught Liverpool’s attention. The Reds making enquires this summer, per 90min.
But Neto suffering a setback in his recovery has dashed Liverpool’s hopes of doing a deal with Wolves this season. It has also thrown the three-cap international’s hopes of playing in Portugal’s remaining World Cup qualifiers out of the window.
Liverpool to wait to summer 2022 to sign Neto from Wolves?
Neto began his international career in promising fashion with the Wolves winger and Liverpool target scoring on debut last November. And while he did not feature in UEFA Nations League ties that month, played frequently in March’s World Cup qualifiers.
Wolves’ rising star also offered a brace of assists in March, before Neto’s knee injury ruled the attacker out of Euro 2020. Now, he faces the best part of a year on the sidelines, and will want to return strongly to boost his chances of featuring at the 2022 World Cup.
Liverpool will likely keep a close eye on how Neto performs for Wolves once he eventually returns, too. Jurgen Klopp will want to see him show no ill-effects of the lengthy absence to pursue a deal next summer. And see Neto return as the same player Danny Murphy lauds.
“I really like this lad,” Murphy told The Daily Mail earlier this month. “He can play on the right or left, has super skill, pace and can score goal. He is so direct and has massive potential. Though Wolves struggled last season, he remained a threat.”
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