Mikel Arteta and Edu have privately talked about signing £30m player from Arsenal’s rivals

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Arsenal could try to pull off a surprise signing before the transfer window shuts.

The Gunners have had a decent summer so far. After turning David Raya’s loan into a permanent deal, Mikel Arteta secured the signing of Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna.

Now Arsenal are said to be close to landing Mikel Merino, who will be their third signing of the summer if the deal can be completed.

Once that’s done, Arsenal are expected to consider a move for a new striker, and a surprise name has just come out of the rumour mill.

Arsenal eye shock move to sign Brighton’s Joao Pedro

Arsenal were on the market for a new striker even before the transfer window opened.

Just a few days before the start of Euro 2024, Arsenal tried to sign Benjamin Sesko, but the RB Leipzig star rejected them and decided to stay put.

The North Londoners have been focusing on other areas of their pitch since, and if all goes to plan, they will add Merino into the mix after Raya and Calafiori.

Then, Arsenal could dive back into the market for a new striker, and Football Transfers have claimed that Brighton and Hove Albion star Joao Pedro is a surprise target.

The report claims that Arteta and Edu Gaspar have had discussions about the possibility of signing the Brazilian, who scored 20 goals in all competitions in the 2023/24 season.

Brighton only signed Pedro in 2023 for around £30 million (BBC), and the Seagulls have shown in previous years that they are a very difficult club to negotiate with.

The outlet reveals that Brighton want a significant profit and would only consider selling him for £50 million in the coming weeks.

Arsenal are expected to sell Eddie Nketiah this month. It remains to be seen if they will use that money to sign Pedro.

Arsenal want Pedro for three reasons

Arsenal fans were hoping for a new striker this summer, but nobody expected Pedro to be a target. However, we think this would be a very smart move.

The Brazilian scored 20 goals in all competitions for Brighton last season, which is the same number Bukayo Saka managed for the Gunners.

Pedro is a quality player, and although it is a surprise that Arsenal are eyeing a move to sign him, it does make sense in the long term.

The report claims that Pedro checks three boxes Arsenal are looking for:

• Age: Pedro is still only 22 years old and has at least a decade left at the top level.
• Potential: Arsenal believe Pedro has ‘high potential’ and could become a star in the future.
• Character: The Gunners think he would fit in well alongside his countrymen – Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Magalhaes.

Pedro only joined Brighton in 2023 and he still has four years left on his contract. It remains to be seen if Arsenal will make a bid to sign him.