Newcastle United should avoid £60m transfer risk by targeting Olise or Mbeumo instead

Newcastle United's summer plans are beginning to take shape and the Magpies have been informed how much they will need to part with should they make their Pedro Neto interest concrete.

The Wolverhampton Wanderers winger has his admirers at St James' Park but any interested suitor will have to spend £60m to acquire his services this summer, report the Telegraph. Wolves are under no pressure to sell after offloading the likes of Matheus Nunes, Ruben Neves, Nathan Collins, Conor Coady and Raul Jimenez in recent seasons.

Wolves boss Gary O'Neill, asked over Neto's future this month, said: “Pedro’s really happy at the club and, if nothing happens for him in the summer and there’s no big offers or big clubs coming in for him, he’s more than committed to cracking on and showing everyone how good he is next season in a Wolves shirt."

But the question is: Would Newcastle be better off spending that money elsewhere?

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Neto is a top talent, with crucial Premier League experience and a proven track record during his time in England's top flight. His arrival would represent a significant upgrade on Eddie Howe's current options on the right of his attack and would prove a popular, statement signing.

The one negative, causing slight doubts, is his injury record. The Portuguese winger pulled up with a hamstring issue against Newcastle United at Molineux in October 2023. He would miss eight games before returning to the squad for the last away fixture of the year.

However, Neto again was hit with a hamstring problem in a 2-1 victory over Fulham in March, this time in his other leg. “Pedro had a really good week," O'Neill said after the blow.

"He had a scan that was completely clear. No muscle damage at all. He felt really good yesterday in training. Felt good again today. So just really, really disappointed that lands on me eventually, whether the decision to play him today was right or not.”

Neto also missed 27 games in 2022/23 with an ankle problem, 52 games with a knee injury in 2020/21 and suffered a muscle injury the season before.

Neto's talent may be undeniable but Newcastle have had enough injuries to last a lifetime in recent months. For an outlay of £60m, pursuing him can be classed as a risk.

For that type of spend, Newcastle should surely try and target the likes of Michael Olise or Bryan Mbeumo; two right wingers who would also represent upgrades to Miguel Almiron and Jacob Murphy out wide.

The former has ended the season in fine form for Crystal Palace, who are battling hard to keep him, Eberechi Eze and manager Oilver Glasner. Olise will have plenty of suitors before the end of the summer window and should Newcastle pursue, and beat their Premier League counterparts, to a deal, it would represent a major coup.

Chelsea had triggered the £35m release clause in Olise's contract last summer before the deal collapsed. Olise opted to stay put and signed a new contract at Selhurst Park, with the £35m clause increased.

Mbeumo is another player who would likely cost a similar fee, given his importance to Thomas Frank's Brentford. Newcastle bosses got a close up glimpse of the wide man at the Gtech Community Stadium as he terrorised Dan Burn in the opening minutes of the clash, before the Magpies took the lead and began to kick on.

Olise has had his own hamstring issues in the last two seasons, while Mbeumo missed 15 games this term due to an ankle problem. But neither player has had the type of consistent, lengthy issues seen with the Wolves attacker.

Few will turn their nose up at a signing of Neto's ilk. However, there looks to be safer, equally as exciting, options for Newcastle elsewhere in the summer market.