Wolves actually pulled off a transfer masterclass with controversial deal during summer window
Wolves made their presence known in the summer transfer window, with one deal standing out as the best.
Gary O’Neil was aware of the task he had to face over the summer to get his squad in order for the 2024/25 campaign.
After the lows of the 2023 transfer window, Wolves were left with a squad that desperately needed more depth and quality.
As a result, Matt Hobbs and O’Neil welcomed eight new faces to Molineux in the summer, as well as offloading three stars permanently.
- READ MORE: Every Wolves signing and exit completed on transfer deadline day August 2024
Wolves’ sale of Pedro Neto to Chelsea was one of the best transfers
From the deadline day arrival of Andre to beating Chelsea to teen sensation Pedro Lima, it was a summer of thrills for the Old Gold in the market.
While things went quiet in the middle of the transfer window, Hobbs and O’Neil managed to reinject hope into the squad by acquiring three signings in the final week.
The incomings at Compton generated attention although, it’s now been suggested that Wolves’ best piece of business came from a sale.
Following the closure of the summer transfer window, The Athletic compiled an evaluation of the Premier League’s activity in the market, ranking the deals completed by every club.
Wolves’ sale of Pedro Neto to Chelsea flagged up as a talking point, but not for good reasons from the Blues’ point of view.
Neto to Chelsea had the ‘lowest rating’ of every high-profile transfer, as the West Londoners handed Wolves £54m for the winger who despite being brilliant, carries a terrible injury record.
- READ MORE: Wolves’ most expensive departures of all time: Where Pedro Neto ranks
When ranking some of the summer signings, The Athletic placed Neto’s move to Chelsea as the fourth-worst, with only Enzo Barrenechea to Aston Villa, Wes Foderingham to West Ham and William Osula to Newcastle beneath him.
While the evaluation sheds light on the quality of the business that Chelsea conducted to sign Neto, it only emphasises the success of Wolves’ sale of the 24-year-old at this point in his career.
Selling Neto was controversial but inevitable
In truth, there was never going to be a right time to sell Neto, who was unplayable on his day for Wolves.
The Old Gold headed into the summer almost expecting to lose the winger, who was generating interest due to his searing patches of form over the 2023/24 campaign.
- READ MORE: Three reasons why receiving £54m for Pedro Neto is actually a good deal for Wolves
Still, it has to be said that despite the unfillable void Neto leaves in O’Neil’s squad, Wolves struck a stellar deal with Chelsea for the Portugal international’s sale, being a player who is injury-prone.
Neto hadn’t completed close to a full Premier League season at Wolves since the 2020/21 campaign, leaving the club having only scored 11 league goals in five years.
As reluctant as O’Neil was to see Neto depart, the Old Gold cashed in at the right time, earning £54m for the winger who despite having a lot to offer, was tarnished by his injury record.
