Super agent Jorge Mendes is the “key” to Arsenal signing Wolves winger Pedro Neto before the transfer window shuts, according to Goal journalist Charles Watts.

The website’s Gunners correspondent claims that Mendes’s influence over transfer policy at Wolves could lead to the player moving to the Emirates within the next week:

“As far as I’m aware, I don’t think there’s been any contact between the actual two clubs. I mean, we know who’s going to be sort of key to all this is Jorge Mendes who’s basically – I don’t even know how you would describe him in terms of his exact role with Wolves, I mean, he basically brings in all the players that Wolves sign, we know that.”

“He’s kind of got that link with them and the owners, and he’s also Pedro Neto’s agent. Now, he might well be influential in this if something is to happen, but again, you are looking way into the future in terms of if that will happen. Now Arsenal don’t have too much time. The transfer deadline is not that far away. But I could never sit here right now and say whether Arsenal are going to sign Neto or not, because lots of stuff has to happen for that.”

Neto is Arsenal’s top priority ahead of the transfer deadline, and it has been suggested that, while Wolves would be very reluctant to sell the Portuguese international, Mendes has other ideas.

It has been reported that the agent has offered the player to the Gunners, along with Manchester United and Chelsea, this summer, which indicates that a deal could be on the cards.

As Watts points out, though, a lot needs to happen for a move to be finalised. The transfer fee is likely to be a sticking point and, while some journalists have claimed that £50m could be enough to secure Neto’s services, Wolves may look to hold out for a higher price.