Arsenal prepare €65m bid for Viktor Gyokeres alternative

Cameron Smith

• 15 Dec 2024 11:15 CST
• 3 min read

Arsenal are reportedly ready to submit a bid for Brighton & Hove Albion forward Joao Pedro as they look to bolster Mikel Arteta’s attacking roster.

The Brazilian became Brighton’s all-time record signing when he joined the club from Watford for €34.2 million last summer and he has developed into one of the Premier League’s most feared strikers since arriving at the AMEX Stadium.

Chelsea and Manchester City have both been linked with a move for Pedro in recent weeks, although they are set to face significant competition in the race for his signature in 2025.

READ MORE: ANGRY Gyokeres fuels €100m transfer rumours

FootballTransfers exclusively revealed that Arsenal are interested in signing Pedro, and the Gunners and Liverpool are both ready to lodge an offer in the region of €55-65 million for the Brighton star, according to CaughtOffside.

Pedro is reportedly open to leaving Fabian Hurzeler’s side in order to join a club in the Champions League, but Brighton are demanding a fee of at least €70m as they look to retain the Brazilian.

His Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) stands at just €19.1m, however his current deal with the Seagulls runs until 2028 and Brighton have become renowned for extracting huge transfer fees for their best players over the past few years.

READ MORE: Gyokeres wants to be Barcelona’s ‘new Lewandowski’ over Man Utd transfer

Joao Pedro to Arsenal?

Pedro has four goals and three assists in nine Premier League matches so far this season and Arsenal have shortlisted him as a key transfer target, alongside the likes of Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko.

Gabriel Jesus has been widely tipped to leave the Emirates Stadium in 2025 and Arteta is eager to sign a new number nine to compete with Kai Havertz for a starting berth in north London.

The Germany international has scored 10 goals in 23 appearances across all competitions so far this campaign and despite Havertz’s impressive form in 2024, Arsenal have been continuously linked with a number of strikers in recent months.