Chelsea play hardball as Maresca eyes Pedro Neto reunion at Manchester City

Enzo Maresca is looking to bring another familiar face to the Etihad, with Manchester City targeting a double raid on Chelsea that includes both Malo Gusto and Pedro Neto. City have already added Elliot Anderson and Jeremy Monga to their squad this window, but Maresca is far from done. The need for a right-back has made Gusto a priority, and the Premier League runners-up have identified the Frenchman as a key target. However, Chelsea are digging in, demanding a fee in excess of €80 million for Gusto - a figure that has so far prevented formal talks from even starting. According to the media, Maresca's ambitions don't stop there. The Italian coach is also keen on a reunion with winger Pedro Neto, who flourished under him during his time at Stamford Bridge. With Savinho and Omar Marmoush facing uncertain futures in Manchester, City could move for the Portuguese international if departures materialise. Chelsea, though, are well aware of the interest. The Blues have not yet set a price for Neto, but they know suitors are circling - City, Liverpool, and clubs from Saudi Arabia are all monitoring the 26-year-old. The west London side believe the current market for wide players works in their favour. With Bradley Barcola and Yan Diomande both valued at over €120 million, Chelsea are confident they can command a significant fee for Neto, even if he doesn't quite reach those astronomical numbers. Neto is currently on a break after representing Portugal at the 2026 World Cup, and it remains to be seen whether new Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso rates him as highly as Maresca did. The former Wolves star was a vital piece of Maresca's Chelsea setup, and City could press ahead with a bid once Savinho or Marmoush move on. Chelsea have already bolstered their own flanks with the arrival of Geovany Quenda from Sporting and the signing of Morgan Rogers, which offset the departure of Alejandro Garnacho on loan to Aston Villa. While the Blues are not actively looking to sell Neto, the club recognises that sales are necessary after the record investment in Rogers. That could give them leverage to extract a hefty combined fee for both Neto and Gusto, using Maresca's interest as a bargaining chip.