Jamie Carragher would have 'loved' Liverpool to pip Premier League rivals to $70m transfer

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher says he would previously have "loved" the Reds to sign Pedro Neto after the Portugal star moved to Chelsea for a fee of up to $70m (£54m/€63m) this summer.

As Carragher noted, however, it is pretty clear why no one other than the Stamford Bridge side was willing to spend that sort of money on the 24-year-old. Since signing for Wolves, Neto has had seven separate injury problems including an ACL, and has missed a total of 584 days according to Transfermarkt .

"The reason I’ve chosen him [as one to watch this season] is because I think, but for injuries, I think this is a player that could play for the best teams in the world," Carragher said on Monday Night Football. "I really do believe that.

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"He’s a player I have always watched for Wolves in the last three or four years, who I’ve always thought, ‘I’d love Liverpool to sign him’. I just look at the pace and the quality on the ball, he scores goals, and I just hope he stays fit.

"If Chelsea could keep him fit, I think he’s a special talent and he’s a player that I love to watch. Even though I'm not a Wolves fan, I actually get down a little bit when I hear he’s injured again."

Liverpool.com says: Neto only scored 14 goals in 135 games for Wolves and spent large portions of his time at Molineux on the sidelines with injuries. For the fee that was paid for the Portuguese, Liverpool was right not to take the risk.

There is no doubt, however, that Neto has the potential to be a top player. If he can get over his injury troubles and find some consistency, he could be a bargain. That is a big if, though, and it is therefore a huge risk for Chelsea to have taken.