Nuno wants to bring Wolves star to Goodison Park

Toby Bowles
Nuno Pedro Neto

Nuno Espirito Santo wants to bring Pedro Neto to Goodison Park if he is named the new Everton manager, according to reports.

Nuno, the current bookies’ favourite to succeed Carlo Ancelotti, departed Wolverhampton Wanderers last month after four years at the helm.

Having led the club to instant promotion from the Championship and then to a 7th-placed finish in his maiden Premier League campaign, Nuno was joined by Neto in the summer of 2019, shortly after Wolves began their arduous Europa League campaign.


FEATURE: England duo grace the ‘perfect’ Euro 2020 XI


The forward has excelled following his move from Braga, growing in stature and cementing his place as a first-team regular: he registered five goals and six assists in 31 Premier League appearances last season.

With Nuno potentially heading to Everton, though, Neto could be snapped up as well. The two are both represented by Jorge Mendes’ Gestifute agency and have developed a strong working relationship at Molineux.

Speaking on Reach PLC’s Transfer Window podcast, journalist Duncan Castles said of the rumours: “Everton’s finances aren’t great and this kind of plays into what Nuno wants to know from Everton, which is what degree of spending he will be allowed to do to the squad and changes he’ll be allowed to make to the squad should they offer him the job.

“One individual who is important here is Pedro Neto. Nuno would like to take him to Everton in an ideal world.

“Everton have been interested in Neto for some time and Neto is available for sale this summer, and one of a number of players Wolves have put on the market in an attempt to raise cash in order to reinvest in the team, which Bruno Lage will take over.”

Castles, though, insists Nuno to Everton is far from a done deal.

“Nuno Espirito Santo has already spoken to Everton,” he said.

“My guidance is the interview went well, Everton told him that he was their preferred choice for the job.

“However, they have put a hold on things since then and not actually offered him the job, which fits with what’s going on in the background at Everton, which is a pretty big conflict over who gets to take authority over the appointment of the next manager.

“You have Bill Kenwright, the previous majority shareholder of the club, who’s still on the board, pushing for David Moyes or Roberto Martinez – two people he has had as Everton managers in the past and who, as one person who’s very familiar with Everton’s operation says, candidates that Bill always pushes for the job.”