Brighton Forward Joao Pedro attracts interest from both Newcastle and Chelsea, but Albion is ready to play hardball during transfer negotiations
Brighton is looking for a package of £ 60 million to punish the exit of Joao Pedro. In the past week, the seagulls have rejected an offer worth a maximum of £ 50 million from Newcastle for the Brazilian international attacker.
However, Amex leaders are also supposed to have rejected an unknown bid from another public Premier League club for Pedro. Albion, who are notorously stubborn negotiators, is well aware that Chelsea also has the 23-year-old on their attacking shortlist who could increase the price of the player.
It is thought that the blues have held the first discussions, although it is not clear at this stage whether Chelsea is the mystery team that has made a bid and their interest can still be linked to the future of Christopher Nunku.
Brighton signed Pedro from Watford in a deal that is worth only £ 30 million in the summer of 2023 and they are determined to double their money. The Hornets also have an unnoticed sale clause that is ready to influence Brighton's thinking at the negotiating table.
Pedro, who scored 30 goals in 70 Albion performances, was banned from the Fabian Hurzeler team for the last two Premier League matches of the season after an alleged training ground spatter with Dutch defender Jan Paul van Hecke.
He is a target of long -term interest in Newcastle, because they were enthusiastic in a movement in August 2022 when conversations were demanded about a dive of £ 30 million. Now the side of Eddie Howe will have to cough twice like that, because the value of Pedro is an air connection after two seasons on the south coast.
Newcastle has performed conversations for three important goals, because they also continue to pursue the movements for Anthony Elanga van Nottingham Forest and the goalkeeper James Trafford van Burnley.
A first offer with a value of a maximum of £ 45 million including add-ons was saved by Forest for the former winger of Manchester United, but discussions are continued between the parties.
In the meantime, Brighton has already brought in extra firepower at the top of the field while preparing for a part company with Pedro.
A £ 29.78 million for Olympiakos attacker Charalampos Kostoulas was completed earlier this month, while colleague Greek Talent Stefanos Tzimas also arrives in the Amex of FC Nurnberg, where he brought on the second half of last season.
The interest of Bayern Munich in Kaoru Mitoma has cooled, but Albion is cautious that they may have to tie the Japanese winger to new conditions for combating future bids because he is only two years left to run his current contract.
Saudi Pro League Al-Nassr is still looking for a left-wing wing player after their approach to £ 54.42 million for Mitoma was rejected by Brighton in January. Liverpool's Luis Diaz is also prominent on their shortlist.