Arsenal and Liverpool have reportedly been warned that it will take a mammoth £70m to land Brighton & Hove Albion attacker Joao Pedro in the summer window.
The Brazil international is said to be one of the names under serious consideration in North London, as Mikel Arteta aims to avoid another fatal attacking shortage in 2025-26.
Meanwhile, Liverpool could face an exodus of attackers in the summer window, including in the number nine spot, as Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota both failed to show their best form last season.
While Nunez and Jota flattered to deceive in 2024-25, Pedro managed a praiseworthy 10 goals and seven assists in 30 appearances for the Seagulls in all tournaments, claiming all but one of those contributions in the Premier League.
Brighton are under no illusions that interest in the former Watford man is growing, but the Seagulls are at least protected by Pedro's contract, which does not run out until the summer of 2028.
Brighton 'want £70m' for Arsenal, Liverpool-linked Pedro
© Iconsport
As a result, The Sun claims that Brighton will only listen to offers around the £70m mark for the 23-year-old, as they seek to double their money after paying £35m for his services in 2023.
Arsenal and Liverpool are two of four Premier League teams said to be pursuing a deal for Pedro, who is also rumoured to have caught the eye of Newcastle United and Aston Villa.
The Brazilian has managed a highly impressive 30 goals and 10 assists in 70 appearances for the Seagulls, but he missed their final five games of the 2024-25 Premier League season due to disciplinary matters.
Pedro firstly served a three-game suspension for violent conduct against Brentford in gameweek 33, before being slapped with an internal two-match ban for a training ground incident with teammate Jan Paul van Hecke.
Pedro makes little sense for Arsenal, but could he work at Liverpool?
© Imago
As talented as Pedro might be, the 23-year-old's temperament and hefty £70m price tag are not the only two reasons why Arsenal in particular should steer clear of this one.
Pedro's versatility is one of his greatest strengths, as he is capable of doing a job centrally or out wide, but Arsenal need specialists in both positions rather than a player of his profile.
The Brighton man is not an out-and-out centre-forward in the same mould as Viktor Gyokeres or Benjamin Sesko either, and it is difficult to see him slotting into the Arsenal system.
Meanwhile, if Dominik Szoboszlai holds his spot in the Liverpool side, new signing Florian Wirtz should operate off the left instead, meaning the only viable option for Pedro at Anfield would be up front.
However, he would arguably be an upgrade on the profligate Nunez and injury-prone Jota in that role, and his ability to drop deep could help create space for Mohamed Salah, so it is not impossible to envisage him thriving in an Arne Slot system.
Ben Knapton
