Brighton and Hove Albion have rejected two offers north of £50m for striker Joao Pedro amid interest from Newcastle United and Chelsea, GIVEMESPORT sources understand.
The Seagulls are sticking to their guns over the valuation for the 23-year-old striker, who has attracted strong interest from the Magpies and Blues this summer. Both clubs are understood to be vying for the signature of the Brazil international.
Despite reports that an agreement has been reached over a £75m transfer for the forward, it appears that the bidding is currently far lower.
Sources: Brighton Reject Joao Pedro Bids
Seagulls sticking to their valuation
Brighton have maintained all summer that they value Pedro, who has been described as an ‘absolute superstar’, around that £75m figure and, if examples of previous seasons are anything to go by, won’t be bullied into accepting a low-ball bid.
Pedro netted ten times in the Premier League last season and has just completed his second campaign on the south coast after joining from Watford for £30m.
His second campaign among the elite was an improvement on his first where he scored nine times for the Seagulls. But he boosted his tally by finding a route to goal in the FA Cup and the Europa League, which boosted his tally to 20.
Both Newcastle and Chelsea have the added attraction of Champions League football as a carrot with which to entice the South American.
Arsenal and Aston Villa have also been keeping tabs on the situation as they look to strengthen their forward options, while Liverpool have also been mentioned in dispatches in the race for the three-time Brazil international.
However, it appears that the Blues, despite signing Liam Delap, are keen to add to their firepower as well and are bang in the running for the forward’s signature.
