caughtoffside
·9 December 2024
caughtoffside
·9 December 2024
Arsenal have reportedly added a new name to their list of striker transfer targets as Mikel Arteta looks to strengthen up front.
According to Spanish outlet Todo Fichajes, the Gunners are now taking a close look at Brighton forward Joao Pedro after his fine form in the Premier League.
The Brazil international has scored an impressive 24 goals in 48 games since joining Brighton, and at the age of 23 he should still have plenty of potential to keep on improving.
Arsenal need a bit more spark up front and Fichajes are reporting that they’re looking at Pedro again, having also asked about him in the summer, with Brighton likely to ask for around €50million to let him go.
This follows Liverpool also recently being linked with a move for Pedro, as per journalist Francois Plateau on X…
Liverpool have sounded out a move for Brighton’s João Pedro and could make a move in January if an opportunity arises. — François Plateau (@francoisplateau) December 6, 2024
Pedro certainly looks like the kind of talent Brighton are going to find it hard to hold on to, with the Seagulls often selling their best players to bigger clubs in recent times.
Joao Pedro celebrates a goal for Brighton (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
One imagines other top clubs might soon join the race for Pedro, but for the time being it looks like he’d face the choice of either Arsenal or Liverpool, two of the biggest names in English football.
The Reds are flying high at the top of the Premier League table at the moment, and Pedro would surely look at the fantastic job Arne Slot has done this season and see it as a tempting project.
Still, there may arguably be more competition in attack at LFC, where Slot also has the likes of Cody Gakpo, Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez to choose from, though Mohamed Salah is nearing the end of his contract so may need replacing.
Overall, though, there would probably be more of a key role for Pedro at Arsenal, who need an alternative to the likes of Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz, with Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard not really offering enough.
The Gunners would also surely be seen as a tempting project for a player like Pedro, with Mikel Arteta looking like he’ll surely deliver major trophies to the Emirates Stadium before too long.