Peter Crouch names Chelsea new boy in top three Premier League summer signings

Former England striker Peter Crouch has picked out Pedro Neto as one of his top three signings of the summer in the Premier League.

Clubs in the English top flight splashed out a combined total of around £630million in the transfer market with a view to bolstering their squads for the 2024/25 campaign.

And while this figure was down 40 per cent on the amount spent 12 months earlier, largely due teams complying with PSR regulations, there were plenty of high-profile moves that kept the gossip columns busy right up until the transfer deadline.

It was a summer of major upheaval at Chelsea to kick off Enzo Maresca’s reign as manager, as the likes of Joao Felix, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Jadon Sancho, Tosin Adarabioyo, Marc Guiu and Felip Jorgensen arrived through the doors at Stamford Bridge.

The west London giants also wrapped up a £51million deal for Wolves winger last month and Crouch is excited to see what the Portugal international can produce in a Chelsea shirt over the coming weeks and months.

Asked to name his three standout signings in the Premier League on TNT Sports, Crouch replied: ‘Pedro Neto from Wolves to Chelsea, I think he’s a top player.

‘I think many in Europe would have signed him and Chelsea have got a top one there along with many others, but I think he’s a top signing.’

Elsewhere, Crouch backed Max Kilman to shine at West Ham, while tipping former Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke to fill the void left by Harry Kane at Tottenham.

‘Max Kilman at West Ham is a top signing. Very solid, I think he’s shown in the first few games that he brings the ball out, retains the ball really well, top player,’ the ex-Liverpool and Tottenham forward added.

‘And I think Dominic Solanke at Tottenham, only because I don’t think they replaced Harry Kane since he left as the focal point.

‘I think they’ve got enough ability in and around it but a No.9 at Spurs, once he gets over his injury, I think he’ll score and do the business.’

Neto made his Chelsea debut as a substitute in the side’s 2-0 defeat at home to champions Manchester City during the opening weekend of the Premier League season.

The Portuguese also came off the bench in the Blues’ rampant 6-2 win at Wolves, setting up Joao Felix with an assist against his former club after replacing Mykhailo Mudryk.

Maresca handed Neto his full Chelsea debut versus Crystal Palace on Sunday and the attacker will no doubt be desperate to continue his run in the side after the international break away to Bournemouth.

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