After three seasons as Premier League bridesmaids, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are plotting a big summer transfer window
It would mark a tidy return for Brighton who signed the 23-year-old from Watford for £30m in 2023, he’s since gone onto score 30 goals for the Albion.
That included the Seagull’s first ever European goals in their 124-year history and he went on to finish joint-top of the 2023/24 Europa League goalscoring charts for the group stage, while also making his international debut in late 2023 replacing none other than Vinicius Junior. This season Pedro took another step, adding four more goal contributions in four less games in the Premier League as the development in the Brazilian’s all-round game saw his assist tally double.
Brighton were able to hold onto him for two more windows after his breakout campaign but with three years left on his contract, Tony Bloom and Fabian Hurzeler are set to finally cash in. The Seagulls had the biggest net spend in Europe last summer splashing out £193 million on a haul including Georginio Rutter and Yankubu Minteh, so must be more frugal this time around to balance the books and Arsenal are one of the frontrunners for Pedro.
Could Joao Pedro be the missing piece for Arteta’s Arsenal
As has been pointed out on one or two occasions, Mikel Arteta’s revival at Arsenal has been successful in every department except the trophy cabinet, with the Spaniard lifting only the FA Cup in his first season at the Emirates, and the ensuing Community Shield.
Arteta could only manage eighth in his first two seasons at the helm - Arsenal’s worst Premier League finish since the 1994-95 season - but is now set for three successive campaigns as domestic bridesmaids. Back-to-back deep runs in the Champions League have contrasted with a failure to make an impression in England’s domestic cup competitions, as Arsenal have lacked the cutting edge to make the difference when it really matters.
They’ve been linked with every star forward in Europe ever since they fell out of the Premier League title race this season but Pedro boasts a skillset that sets him apart from Alexander Isak, Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres, or could compliment a more traditional frontman.
Possessing the versatility to play out wide or as a number nine, Pedro could instantly improve Arsenal’s striking options over the gallant Kai Havertz and Mikel Merino, or form a devastating partnership with Bukayo Saka from the left flank. With Gabriel Martinelli only producing one more goal contribution in his last two Premier League seasons than he did in the 2022/23 campaign alone, Arsenal have been desperate for a more direct threat in the final third.
The second leg of their Champions League semi-final with PSG appeared to be Saka versus the world at times, so bringing in a forward that ranks in the top 4% in take-ons attempted in Europe’s big five leagues (and the top 10% in successes in that department) would add a dynamic that Arteta is sorely missing at present. Pedro would also dovetail nicely with fellow addition Martin Zubimendi, the Real Sociedad midfielder who Fabrizio Romano confirmed is set to join the Gunners.
Arsenal have struggled this season with sluggish build-up meaning they can’t find space in congested final thirds, and Zubimendi’s quarterback-style distribution and composure under pressure has been recruited specifically to speed that up plus give Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard more attacking freedom. Pedro would be the perfect foil to that rejigged attack.
Swap deal plus cash should tempt Brighton amid defensive frailties
While Brighton are more synonymous with hunting for gems hidden away in the J-League or Ecuadorian Serie A and turning them into superstars valued at eight or nine figures, signing more established names like Danny Welbeck and Adam Lallana has also proved fruitful in recent years.
Their spending spree last summer was an indicator of a wider change in transfer mentality too with the Seagulls placed 21st in the latest Deloitte Football Money League. Zubimendi will further fortify an already solid Arsenal vanguard meaning Jakub Kiwior could be just the bargaining chip Arteta needs to unlock a more creative attack, and Brighton are keen to improve their stocks on the left side of defence.
Picking up Olivier Boscagli for free is a good start in that department but Kiwior would be an undoubted upgrade, sprinkling some certified stardust on a back line that boasts only the 15th-best defensive record in the Premier League this season. In Gabriel’s absence he shackled Real Madrid’s vaunted attack over two legs in the Champions League, limiting Vinicius, Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo to a solitary goal in 192 minutes alongside William Saliba.
Arsenal are demanding around £30m for Kiwior with top Serie A clubs interested in his services, but Brighton would surely get priority in a swap deal plus cash for Pedro that would still leave the Seagulls with a double-figure profit on the Brazilian.
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