Manchester City 'to rival Arsenal for Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Pedro Neto'

The 23-year-old has scored 12 goals and registered 22 assists in 122 appearances for the West Midlands club across all competitions since moving to Molineux from Lazio in the summer of 2019.

Neto made a bright start to the current campaign, scoring once and providing seven assists in 10 Premier League games before picking up a hamstring injury in October.

The Portuguese has since returned to full fitness, much to the delight of head coach Gary O'Neil who regards the winger as an integral first-team player going forward.

Neto's impressive performances at Wolves are understood to have caught the eye of a number of Premier League clubs including Arsenal, who have been keeping tabs on the winger for some time.

Manchester United have also been credited with an interest in Neto, who will see his contract at Molineux expire in the summer of 2027.

However, according to The Athletic, via the Manchester Evening News, Man City are monitoring Neto, although the winger is not expected to leave Wolves in January.

The report adds that the working relationship between Man City and Wolves from previous transfers, such as Tommy Doyle's current loan at Molineux and Matheus Nunes permanent switch to the Etihad Stadium in the summer, could play a factor in future negotiations for Neto.

Man City's interest in Neto comes at a time when the long-term future of Portuguese compatriot Bernardo Silva remains uncertain.

Bernardo has been continuously linked with an exit from the Etihad ever since he expressed his desire to begin a "new project" 12 months ago.

The 29-year-old playmaker penned a new contract at Man City in September, keeping him tied to the Etihad until 2026, but he has openly discussed how he would like to return to boyhood club Benfica before he retires.

Following the summer departure of Riyad Mahrez to Al-Ahli, Man City strengthened their options on the flanks by recruiting Jeremy Doku from Rennes for a reported £55m, and he has since made an impressive start to life under Pep Guardiola.

The 21-year-old, who is competing with Bernardo, Jack Grealish, Phil Foden and Oscar Bobb for starts on the wing, has contributed with four goals and six assists in 18 games for the Citizens this season, netting his most recent strike on his return to the first team in last weekend's 5-0 FA Cup win over Huddersfield Town, following a lengthy spell out through injury.