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Arsenal are among the Premier League clubs interested in signing Brighton's Joao Pedro this summer, with Chelsea and Liverpool also reportedly keen.
It's no secret that the Gunners want to invest heavily this summer, and a large chunk of their funds will be dedicated towards bolstering Mikel Arteta's attack. The club are reportedly prioritising a move for either Viktor Gyokeres or Benjamin Sesko to improve their options up top, while an array of wide players have been linked with north London switches.
Brazilian international Pedro, while he dons the number nine shirt for Brighton, is far from a traditional centre-forward. While capable of leading the line, he's primarily worked off the shoulder of a striker on the south coast. Pedro has 30 goals in 70 games for the Seagulls having joined in a £30m deal from Watford two summers ago.
Arsenal enter race to sign Brighton forward Joao Pedro
The Telegraph reports that Arsenal are long-term admirers of Pedro, who arrived on English shores from Fluminense in 2020. The Brazilian barely got a chance in the top flight before Watford were relegated to the Championship, and it quickly became clear that the second tier would pose little challenge for the talented young forward.
Pedro is unlikely to emerge as a number one choice for the Gunners this summer, but I wonder whether they're considering the 23-year-old as a versatile, do-it-all forward option. He's comfortable operating in a withdrawn role, and there's scope for Mikel Arteta to drift into more of a 4-2-3-1 next season after Martin Zubimendi joins the club.
Some have speculated whether Zubimendi could operate in a midfield pivot alongside Declan Rice, with captain Martin Odegaard, who needs a bounce-back campaign in 2025/26, functioning ahead of them. Pedro could supply cover in that number ten position, and up top. He's also played out wide in the past but would require an overlapping full-back to succeed down the flanks given the positions he'd want to take up.
Arsenal reportedly boasted an interest in Matheus Cunha during the January transfer window, but the Wolves star looks set to move to Manchester United this summer. I was never convinced that Cunha was a suitable fit, and I may hold similar reservations about Pedro. He'd be a luxury addition, for me.
Considering that Brighton would want to receive much more than the £30m they paid for him two years ago, as well as the potential competition, I just don't see Arsenal getting involved with the Brighton forward.