Liverpool legend John Barnes believes that Wolves winger Pedro Neto would be perfectly suited to playing for his former club.
The Portuguese international has been heavily linked with both Arsenal and Manchester City in recent months but, speaking to MyBettingSites, Barnes said he could be a good replacement for Mo Salah:
“I’ve always liked Pedro Neto – always liked him. If you’re looking for a profile of a winger that would suit Liverpool down to the ground, that winger is Pedro Neto.”
“He would suit Liverpool more than any other club. He’s direct; he’s quick. He’s a bit like Mo Salah, where he’s direct and always plays well. He’s had his injury issues which have held him back, but you can see that he can play for any of the top clubs.”
Neto has been in excellent form
The 23-year-old has had a great season so far, scoring 3 goals and providing 10 assists in only 18 appearances for Wolves.
However, as Barnes mentions, Neto does have a chequered injury record. In previous seasons, he has suffered serious knee and ankle injuries, while he has spent six weeks out with a hamstring problem this campaign. Despite that, though, his performances have led to speculation that he could leave Molineux for around £60m this summer.
There are legitimate comparisons to Mo Salah
Neto and Salah do share similar traits. For one thing, they are both left-footed and, for a winger in the modern game, that is quite rare. On top of that, they both possess pace and great ball control.
There is a disparity in terms of the number of goals they score. Neto is very much a creator rather than a finisher, but Barnes is right that he could be considered as an option to replace Salah.
Considering the interest from Saudi Arabia and the fact that the Liverpool icon’s contract will have just 12 months left to run this summer, the Reds may be looking for his successor.
