There are quite a few Chelsea fans who would be happy to go into next season without Pedro Neto in their squad, however he can save his place in the side by playing in a brand new position.
Neto was Chelsea’s top scoring winger in the Premier League last season, however hasn’t found the net since the start of December in that competition.
He was frequently given opportunities on the right of attack, however supporters grew frustrated of his lack of end product as his role shifted in the side.
CHELSEA’S FIXTURES ARE ANNOUNCED!
What do you make of our start to the season?
Pedro Neto could save Chelsea career by becoming a wing-back
The Portugal international would start picking the ball up from deep far more often, seeing him end up in positions where he was unable to use his biggest asset – his pace.
The Blues ideally need to use him exactly as his country have at the World Cup. Neto picked up an assist in Portugal’s draw with DR Congo.
He started on the left of attack, and a role could open up in a similar position under Xabi Alonso in the form of left wing-back.
Chelsea are on the lookout for a replacement for Marc Cucurella, who towards the end of the 2025/26 season was featuring as a wing-back rather than full-back.
However, he lacked the attacking cutting edge when frequently finding himself in the most advanced position on the pitch, something you would think Neto would possess more of.
How many points are Chelsea taking out of a possible 1️⃣2️⃣?
Alonso has experience with attacking wing-backs
During his time at Bayer Leverkusen, Alonso deployed Jeremie Frimpong as an aggressive advanced wing-back, helping his side eventually win the treble in Germany.
Reece James is unlikely to pull off this role, and he would actually be suited to performing the duties of opposite wing-back Alejandro Grimaldo, who was tasked at the time with creating chances from a deeper position.
Neto is desperate for a role to call his own next season, and the arrival of Geovany Quenda to add to another year of development for Estevao Willian will make it hard to see in the wide areas of attack.
However, he would naturally suit an attacking wing-back role, and could be the unlikely saviour for him when it comes to his career at Chelsea.
Receive a digest of our best Chelsea content each week direct to your mailbox
