Liverpool will have to pay a fee “exceeding £60m” for Brighton forward Joao Pedro, according to reports.
Earlier this week, it emerged that the Reds were competing with Arsenal and Chelsea for the Brazilian’s signature.
However, TEAMtalk now claim that Arne Slot’s side are the team most “serious about bidding” for Pedro ahead of the summer transfer window.
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Negotiating with Brighton is notoriously difficult, though, and despite the fact that the Seagulls only paid Watford £30m for the player three years ago, their asking price is now (at the very least) double that.
Why are Liverpool so keen on the player?
Pedro has been on the Merseyside club’s radar for several years, going all the way back to Michael Edwards’ time as sporting director. They actually made enquiries before Watford signed the striker from Fluminense in the summer of 2019. They have kept track of him since then.
The 23-year-old has many of the key attributes needed to play as a false nine and he would have been seriously considered as a successor to Roberto Firmino. However, Jurgen Klopp opted to splash the cash on Darwin Nunez instead.
With Nunez now expected to leave this summer, Pedro has come back into contention, six years after their initial interest was made known.
Are alternatives to Pedro being looked at?
There have been suggestions that the Reds could raid Chelsea for Christopher Nkunku but the 27-year-old’s age, fitness record and poor form since moving to England would count against him.
RB Leipzig pair Xavi Simons and Benjamin Sesko are also likely to be targeted, while Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike is being looked at as well.
Considering how long Pedro has been on Liverpool’s shortlist, though, you wouldn’t bet against them making a bid over the coming days and weeks.
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