Manchester City failed in late transfer swoop for €63 million Chelsea star

Chelsea fended off late transfer competition from Manchester City in the hunt for their most-recent signing, a new report has revealed.

The two sides have already met on the pitch once this season, competing during their respective pre-season tours of the United States with the Premier League champions coming out on top in Columbus, Ohio.

An Erling Haaland hat-trick, accompanied by a sensational individual effort from Oscar Bobb, saw Manchester City emerge as 4-2 victors, with two of their goals capitalising on defensive errors from Enzo Maresca’s men.

Chelsea and Manchester City will also be going to head-to-head this Sunday in their Premier League opening weekend clash at Stamford Bridge, with the latter hoping to kickstart their pursuit of a staggering fifth successive top-flight title in the right fashion.

But their involvements on the pitch during this summer has also seen a clash off the pitch and at the negotiating table, with a new report detailing a transfer battle that ensued over the future of one of the Premier League’s best attacking profiles.

As per the information of journalist Ben Jacobs, Premier League giants Chelsea successfully fended late competition, interest, and a proposal from Manchester City in their hunt to sign Wolverhampton Wanderers and Portugal winger, Pedro Neto.

Etihad Stadium officials were thought to have been long-term admirers of Pedro Neto’s talents and held a watching brief over the player during the opening weeks of the now-ongoing summer transfer window.

However, with the club securing the signing of Brazil international Savinho from fellow City Football Group side Troyes, there may have been a feeling that Neto’s potential arrival was either unnecessary, or certainly not urgent.

There is a belief within Manchester City that Savinho can go on to be one of the starring forwards at the Etihad Stadium for years to come, having held the view that he could one day reach the club since his time with Brazilian club Atletico-MG.