There has been a lot of talk about Joao Pedro’s future in recent weeks. Reports have suggested that he is unsettled at Brighton & Hove Albion and could look to leave this summer. But, according to a report from Graeme Bailey on TBR Football, the Seagulls are not willing to sanction his departure despite interest from giants Arsenal, Chelsea, and Liverpool.
Pedro came up the ranks at Fluminense and made a name for himself while playing for their first team before joining Watford at the start of 2020. His consistent performances for the Hornets put him on the radar of Brighton & Hove Albion, who ended up signing him in the summer of 2023.
The 23-year-old Brazilian striker had an impressive debut campaign as he contributed towards 23 goals (20 goals, 3 assists in his 40 outings. While he has missed a handful of games this season, Joao Pedro still has 17 goal contributions in his 30 outings.
He prefers playing as a number nine but can also feature as a left winger, a number ten or as a second striker. The Brazilian international’s standout performances have attracted interest from several top clubs, and recent reports claiming Pedro is unsettled at Brighton have put those suitors on red alert.
He was dropped from the squad for their win over Liverpool following a training ground altercation with Jan Paul van Hecke. While the Seagulls suggest they are over it, it has certainly had an impact on the player, and interested clubs have started circling again.
Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool are three of the biggest English clubs that want to sign the 23-year-old, and they have been briefed about his eagerness to leave the AMEX. The Gunners are on the lookout for a world-class striker, and they also seek more quality on the left flank. Pedro could solve both those problems for Mikel Arteta’s team.
Meanwhile, Chelsea consider Joao Pedro an ideal fit for their project that revolves around signing the best young players. They need someone who can compete with Nicolas Jackson and add more depth on the flanks making the 23-year-old just the perfect fit.
Even Liverpool are looking for a new striker, and they might even need more quality on the left flank as the future of Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz is up in the air. Pedro could help cope with the duo’s departure.
But signing the Brazilian won’t be easy as Brighton value him at £100 million, and they are not going to lower their demands. He seems to be unattainable this summer. Even if the player pushes for the move, the Seagulls will still have the upper hand in negotiations with his contract running until 2028. They are aware of reports of him being unsettled but Brighton continue to insist that he won’t be sold.
