Joao Pedro of Brighton & Hove Albion
Joao Pedro of Brighton & Hove Albion
Aston Villa have been linked with a move for £50m-rated Brighton and Hove Albion forward Joao Pedro in the summer transfer window, along with fellow Premier League clubs Newcastle United, Liverpool and Chelsea.
Joao Pedro, 23, has earned a nomination for the Premier League's young player of the year award after scoring ten goals for the Seagulls, in a side who can still qualify for Europe next year depending on results in these final couple of gameweeks.
He has also been rewarded for his performances with two international call ups for his native Brazil this term; Pedro featured against Paraguay back in November and then played an hour in the World Cup qualifying win over Colombia in March.
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Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler said of the striker recently: “Yeah he makes a difference. I think every premier league club has this one player who makes the special things, and I think he’s exactly that player for us.
"He’s not only a great player, he’s also a great leader—you know, I think we underestimate him a little bit regarding leader skills—he’s a great leader, he’s very demanding—he demands a lot from his teammates, he always sets the standards really high, and I think he’s a big role model for all the young players.”
Pedro, who joined Brighton from Watford in the summer of 2023 for around £30m, has now been linked with a host of top Premier League clubs who could offer the Brazilian Champions League football next term - and by doing so improve his international prospects further.
Villa have been tipped as one of the sides who have kept an eye on Pedro, who is admired by many for his versatility and proven track record in front of goal. Brighton, according to reports, would demand as much as £50m from any interested in clubs, for a player who still has three years remaining on his contract.
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