Joao Pedro could be waving goodbye to Brighton this summer. (Image: PA)
Joao Pedro could be waving goodbye to Brighton this summer. (Image: PA)
Watford could be in line for a seven-figure windfall worth more than previously thought if Joao Pedro leaves Brighton this summer.
The 23-year-old is reportedly among Newcastle United’s top targets as Eddie Howe looks to strengthen his forward line, while Chelsea are among the other clubs to have been linked with a move for the former Hornets forward who joined the Seagulls two years ago.
Joao Pedro could be waving goodbye to Brighton this summer.
Joao Pedro could be waving goodbye to Brighton this summer.
(Image: PA) The fee Watford received in 2023 was never disclosed, but we understand it was £30million with a further £5m payable subject to various clauses.
While it is not known what those clauses are, or if any have been met, this newspaper has been told by sources close to the deal the Hornets astutely negotiated a 20 per cent sell-on fee – a figure higher than previously reported - on any profit Brighton make on the player's sale.
With a potential fee of around €70m being widely suggested, that means Watford could net in the region of £6m if Pedro does leave the Amex Stadium.
Such a sum would be an unexpected boost to the Hornets and will likely be used to help plug the gap in the finances that has been filled by selling players in previous years.
That improves the prospects of the likes of Imran Louza, Giorgi Chakvetadze and Kwadwo Baah remaining at Vicarage Road, a stated aim of Gino Pozzo as he aims to challenge for the play-offs and promotion under new head coach Paulo Pezzolano next season.
Having paid Fluminense around £10m for the Brazilian in 2020, getting such a sizeable sell-on clause inserted in any future deal looks likely to prove another shrewd piece of business by the Watford owner.
The Hornets have a strong track record in making significant profits on some of their most saleable assets during the Pozzo era, such as the moves which took Richarlison and Abdoulaye Doucoure to Everton, Odion Ighalo’s transfer to China and more recently Yaser Asprilla’s switch to Girona last summer.
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Speculation about the Brazilian international’s future has intensified since he was involved in a training ground spat with teammate Jean Paul van Hecke towards the end of the season.
Pedro scored 10 goals in 27 Premier League appearances to help the Seagulls finish eighth in the top flight, having struck nine times in 31 league games in his first season on the south coast.
Capped three times by Brazil, the forward made his Hornets debut in an FA Cup tie against Tranmere in January 2021, and chalked up three brief Premier League appearances at the end of the Covid-hit relegation season.
He was a regular as promotion straight back to the Premier League was achieved in 20/21, and was one of the few bright spots in the relegation campaign a year later.
Pedro scored 11 goals in 35 appearances in what was to be his final season at Vicarage Road, and was voted Player of the Season at the end of that 2022/23 campaign.