Why Chelsea shouldn't consider selling Pedro Neto despite the potential of a huge fee

[p]Whilst there's always likely to be last-minute deals conducted, as much for unforeseen injuries that occur during pre-season as anything else, clubs doing their business early arguably have the run on some of their opponents.[/p][h2]More outgoings for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/chelsea/4fGZN2oK/"]Chelsea[/a]?[/h2][p]Being able to hit the ground running in the first game of a new campaign is largely down to having a settled starting XI by the time the first whistle in the new season sounds, and to that end, Chelsea are again in the headlines, but this time for potentially allowing one of their star performers to move on.[/p][p]For the last few transfer windows, the Blues have seen multiple incomings and outgoings, to the point now where it's almost expected.[/p][embed guid="24039326-5849-4225-9916-a3274a9a469d" url="https://x.com/Flashscorecom/status/1940432934877450301" social-type="twitter" /][p]Whether for financial reasons or otherwise, that has become the new reality for the West London outfit.[/p][p]One player who had an outstanding season in 2025/26 could well be one of the next players to be moved on by owners, Clearlake Capital.[/p][h2]£100m+ fee could sway Blues[/h2][p]Although reports suggest that the Blues aren't actively looking for buyers for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/neto-pedro/lxtnUkIP/"]Pedro Neto[/a], nor are they apparently discounting the possibility, given how much the market value for wingers appears to have increased recently.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/barcola-bradley/lhGD3RgS/"]Bradley Barcola[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/diomande-yan/0p2ORrJi/"]Yan Diomande[/a] moving to pastures new look to be two deals that could happen in this window, and with reported transfer fees in excess of £100m, Chelsea are clearly keen to be open to all options.[/p][embed guid="b49fefe9-9308-46a4-88e3-24cd19586ed3" url="https://x.com/ChelseaFC/status/2072827673659810230" social-type="twitter" /][p]Both [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/manchester-city/Wtn9Stg0/"]Man City[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/liverpool/lId4TMwf/"]Liverpool[/a] have been linked with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/neto-pedro/lxtnUkIP/"]Neto[/a], and with former Blues manager [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/maresca-enzo/nJsvYDRG/"]Enzo Maresca[/a] now having taken over from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/guardiola-pep/hxNijWrJ/"]Pep Guardiola[/a] at the Etihad Stadium, there are reasons to believe that a reunion might well be possible.[/p][p]Options in the Saudi Pro League are also apparently on the table, but such a switch is only likely to occur if Neto values his financial situation above all else.[/p][h2]Incredible return[/h2][p]At present, it isn't actually clear if the Portuguese ace would countenance a move elsewhere in any event, though it's a common enough fact in football circles that if a club puts a value on a player or accepts a bid, that's an acceptance that they're happy for said player to leave.[/p][p]Were Neto therefore to be seen as surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge, what could he bring to any new employer?[/p][image alt="Pedro Neto xG map - Premier League 2025/26" id="04f0f324-f81f-479d-bbc7-c8f22acb6edb" credit-line="Opta by Stats Perform" guid="ff7f3e37-f8fa-4620-8b6d-cb2b95286dd9" original-width="768" original-height="576" /][p]For a start, no one in the Chelsea side provided more than his 10 assists (joint-most with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fernandez-enzo/nZnbEVWP/"]Enzo Fernandez[/a]) last season, and the wide man also weighed in with 13 goals, the fourth-best return in the team.[/p][p]Nineteen fast breaks were at least seven more than any of his colleagues managed, and Neto also hit the woodwork on four occasions; had those efforts gone in, they would have seen him up near the very summit of the top scorers list last season.[/p][p]What may surprise many, given that Chelsea had the likes of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/joao-pedro/CAmJERl2/"]Joao Pedro[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/palmer-cole/h8agbDt7/"]Cole Palmer[/a] et al playing for them, is that Neto had the best shot accuracy in the squad (59.18%), as well as the best shot conversion (16.25%). Even his big chance conversion rate of 53.85% was better than anyone else too.[/p][h2]More duels than combative [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cucurella-marc/QTynbZd3/"]Cucurella[/a][/h2][p]With those kinds of figures alone, it's little wonder that other clubs are showing potential interest in his services.[/p][p]That's not taking his excellence in other areas into account either.[/p][image alt="Pedro Neto radar graphic - Premier League 2025/26" id="d27ea8a0-fb0c-4578-b2d1-95f886e2cb32" credit-line="Opta by Stats Perform" guid="e824abee-2811-42df-9d18-1e5c499bdb34" original-width="768" original-height="576" /][p]An 88.42% pass completion rate was one of the best in the squad, whilst his 837 passes attempted into the final third were only exceeded by Enzo Fernandez. Neto's 85.3% completion in this respect was another top showing, with Fernandez's 77.22% some way off.[/p][p]Even 428 one-on-one duels attempted is excessive for a winger, and put into context, that output was even higher than the combative Marc Cucurella, for example.[/p][h2]Test of Xabi Alonso's reign[/h2][p]His tackle success rate of 58.06% is also incredibly laudable and is evidence of a player who works hard at both ends of the pitch for the good of his team.[/p][p]Indeed, it's that work rate that arguably sets him apart from his contemporaries, and in the right set-up, he could be dynamite.[/p][embed guid="7f538e35-1a62-4122-bc31-b5d10eab2038" url="https://x.com/pedrolneto7/status/1908174431509209302" social-type="twitter" /][p]His potential sale could be the first real test of Xabi Alonso's managerial reign in West London, too, because with those sorts of numbers, why would you countenance getting rid of Neto in the first place?![/p][p]It would still show beyond doubt that Todd Boehly et al are actually pulling the strings, and that's a recipe for disaster with the greatest respect.[/p][infobox id="8a8311c3-81b3-440e-8b49-36091db073d1" /]