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Chelsea are reportedly willing to demand up to $135.5 million (£100 million) for winger Pedro Neto as interest grows from Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal.
The Daily Mail reports that Neto has "several suitors" this summer, though Chelsea are not actively seeking to offload him, insisting any interested party must meet a nine-figure asking price for the player who has also been linked with Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur.
Chelsea's valuation has already appeared to deter their Premier League rivals, but Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Al Hilal are now exploring a potential deal, with formal discussions with Chelsea officials expected in the coming days.
That $135.5 million price tag will be presented to Al Hilal, who must now determine whether to table an offer capable of genuinely persuading Chelsea to let him go.
Why Chelsea's Neto Asking Price Makes Sense
Neto is among the more polarizing figures in the Chelsea squad. Supporters have questioned his consistency, yet his quality has been on display since his time at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
He started 30 of the 34 Premier League matches he was available for last season, and including cup competitions, Neto wrapped up the campaign with 10 goals and 10 assists to his name.
The 26-year-old is clearly a key component of Chelsea's setup, having put his injury troubles behind him — issues that may have prevented such a costly transfer three years ago. With five years still remaining on his contract, Chelsea are under no pressure to sell.
Wingers have become a highly sought-after commodity this summer, partly due to Chelsea's own transfer activity. The $157 million signing of Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa has already helped shape valuations across the league, while Yan Diomande joined Real Madrid for $161.6 million and Paris Saint-Germain are seeking an even higher fee to sell Bradley Barcola to Liverpool.
Neto is older and may not rank alongside those names among the world's elite wingers, but he remains a prized asset at Chelsea, and the club's decision to price him just below those record-breaking figures is entirely understandable.
Should Chelsea Sell Neto?
An additional complication in any potential negotiations is the timing of Al Hilal's approach, which arrives with only two weeks remaining in the transfer window.
Chelsea have already set an artificial deadline for clubs pursuing midfielder Enzo Fernández. The Blues urged interested parties to declare their intentions by the end of last week, making clear they are no longer keen on sanctioning a sale that would unsettle Xabi Alonso's squad so close to the start of the new Premier League season.
The same logic applies to Neto, whose asking price was reported to be somewhat lower earlier in the window. Selling has now become an inconvenience for Chelsea, who are demanding to be compensated accordingly.
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That said, should a substantial offer arrive, Chelsea would be well-advised to give it serious consideration.
Neto has been a dependable contributor during his two seasons at Chelsea but has not made a notable leap beyond what he showed at Wolves. A return of 19 goals and 19 assists across 103 appearances is commendable, yet falls short of the standards expected at Stamford Bridge.
The opportunity to bring in an upgrade is not something Chelsea should dismiss lightly, even if sourcing a replacement at this late stage of the window presents its own difficulties.