---
title: "‘Direct contact’ – Fabrizio Romano confirms massive Tottenham transfer blow in race for €81m attacker"
canonical: "https://readtottenham.com/2026/08/04/tottenham-transfer-blow-manchester-city-want-neto-chelsea/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Vishal Subramanian"
section: "Tottenham News"
published: "2026-08-04T16:19:43Z"
modified: "2026-08-04T16:27:38Z"
---

# ‘Direct contact’ – Fabrizio Romano confirms massive Tottenham transfer blow in race for €81m attacker

**Tottenham Hotspur’s chase for an attacker has seemingly taken another blow.**

Roberto De Zerbi’s side have made six signings, spending well in excess of 230m. However, they haven’t been able to bring in a top-class attacker to the club despite being linked with the likes of Cody Gakpo, Eli Junior Kroupi and Savinho, among others.

We’ve reported extensively on the aforementioned players on Read Tottenham, but one player who hasn’t been spoken of as much from this standpoint is Pedro Neto.

[Neto was linked with a move to Tottenham earlier in the summer](https://readtottenham.com/2026/07/20/tottenham-hotspur-submit-verbal-bid-to-sign-chelsea-winger/), with reports from England even suggesting that the Lilywhites made a verbal offer for the Portuguese international.

And now, it appears as if Manchester City have stolen the march on his signature.

## Manchester City ahead of Tottenham in Pedro Neto race

[Foot Mercato](https://www.footmercato.net/a5262280559534467346-manchester-city-prepare-un-transfert-a-81-meur), citing English sources, claim that Manchester City are ready to bid €81m for the Chelsea attacker.

Fabrizio Romano hasn’t reported anything about that price tag but has confirmed that City are indeed in talks to sign Neto.

> 🚨🇵🇹 EXCL: Manchester City make direct contact with Pedro Neto’s camp as talks start over possible move.\
> \
> Neto among [#MCFC](https://x.com/hashtag/MCFC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) target if Savinho goes to Spurs while he’s also understood to be on Tottenham list as backup option.\
> \
> Deal also depends on Chelsea valuation. 🔛 [pic.twitter.com/POaVdvToDJ](https://t.co/POaVdvToDJ)
>
> — Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) [August 4, 2026](https://x.com/FabrizioRomano/status/2084675755095597229?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

New Cityzens boss Enzo Maresca knows the Portuguese international well. Neto was a regular during the Italian short but eventful stint at Stamford Bridge, so this could be a move that has legs after all.

Since Tottenham’s verbal bid was reported, we haven’t heard anything about the saga, so they are probably well and truly out of the race to sign Neto.

However, the silver lining is that Neto plays the same position as Savinho, who has been linked with a move to Spurs.

So maybe the Cityzens are just preparing for the Brazilian’s eventual departure to North London by making a move for Neto? We’re certainly hoping that’s the case.

​