Arsenal are reportedly still casting a watchful eye over Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Pedro Neto amid the 23-year-old's bright start to the campaign.
The Gunners were one of a few top clubs linked with a move for Neto during his first couple of seasons at Molineux, only for injuries to hamper his development.
However, the Portugal international has since consigned his fitness woes to the past with a scintillating start to the new season, registering one goal and four assists in his side's opening seven Premier League matches.
Neto has directly contributed to a goal in each of Wolves' last five Premier League games, registering four assists from three matches against Everton, Crystal Palace and Liverpool, subjecting Joe Gomez to a torrid Molineux afternoon against the latter.
The former Lazio and Braga man then opened his account for the season with a powerful strike into the roof of the net against Luton Town last weekend, before playing a crucial role in his side's memorable win over champions Manchester City on Saturday.
© Reuters
Picking up the ball in the middle of the pitch on the right-hand side, Neto burst away from Phil Foden and Nathan Ake before attempting to pick out a teammate, but Ruben Dias deflected the Portuguese's cutback into his own net.
Julian Alvarez's stunning free kick got the treble winners back on level terms, but Hwang Hee-chan prodded home the decisive goal in the second half, ending Man City's perfect start to the new season and leaving Arsenal just one point behind Pep Guardiola's side in the early-season rankings.
After doing the Gunners a huge favour in their early attempts to put pressure on the champions, The Mirror reports that Neto is still on Arsenal's transfer radar ahead of a possible winter swoop.
Head coach Mikel Arteta and sporting director Edu are believed to have been keeping their eye on the winger for some time, and they were priced out of a move for Neto in the summer of 2022.
The Gunners reportedly tried their luck again this summer, only to have their advances rejected by Gary O'Neil's side, who tied Neto down to a new long-term contract until 2027 last year.
© Reuters
Given Neto's increasing importance to Wolves, the West Midlands outfit will be expected to drive a hard bargain this winter - that is if they entertain any conversations over the future of the Portuguese attacker.
Wolves forked out £15.5m to bring Neto to the Premier League from Lazio in 2019, and the 23-year-old now has 12 goals and 17 assists to show from 118 appearances in the orange strip across all tournaments.
Neto has also played his way back into the Portugal setup owing to his stellar start to the campaign, earning his fourth cap as a substitute in a 1-0 Euro 2024 qualifying win over Slovakia on September 8.
Arsenal - who terminated the contract of record signing Nicolas Pepe this summer - are expected to be in the market for attacking reinforcements in January, as Gabriel Martinelli remains out with a hamstring injury, while Bukayo Saka limped off towards the end of Saturday's 4-0 win over Bournemouth.
However, Leandro Trossard shook off his own thigh issue to make the bench at the Vitality Stadium, where Arsenal won their first three away games without conceding for the first time ever in a top-flight season.
Ben Knapton
