Joao Pedro ‘wants to join Liverpool’ as ‘massive Brighton deal’ on the cards

Joao Pedro ‘wants to join Liverpool’ as ‘massive Brighton deal’ on the cards

Brighton forward Joao Pedro wants to join Liverpool this summer as Arne Slot plans to sign a new striker to strengthen his attacking options.

Liverpool want to sign striker who is ‘better than Joao Pedro’

Football Insider exclusively revealed in December that Liverpool were plotting a £60million move for Pedro, who would be interested in the move to Anfield.

However, Brown, who has a wealth of experience in top-level player recruitment after over a decade at Man United during their most successful period, has insisted that they will prioritise a move for a more accomplished goalscorer.

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“If he’s given the chance to go to Liverpool, he’ll want to go,” he told Football Insider.

“Knowing Brighton and the way they operate, they’ll want a massive fee for him.

“I think he’s certainly one Liverpool have been looking at, but I’m not convinced he’s the right man.

“You could put him in that team and he’d do a job, but I hear Liverpool are going to make a move for a top-class striker and goalscorer.

“They create so many chances that any striker playing in the team, for the most part, would do well.

“But they want a real top-level goalscorer because Nunez has been so inconsistent for them.

“They feel a real out-and-out forward would be just what they need to take them to the next level.”

Liverpool boss Arne Slot is playing a key role in their transfer plans.

Arne Slot eyeing Carlos Baleba signing after Brighton latest

Pedro is not the only Brighton star on Liverpool’s radar ahead of the summer transfer window, with Carlos Baleba also emerging as a person of interest at Anfield.

Football Insider revealed on 1 March that Liverpool want to sign Baleba from Brighton and have been keeping tabs on his performances so far this season.

The 21-year-old has emerged as their top target to strengthen in midfield thanks to his passing, ball-carrying and ability to break up play.

Brown, meanwhile, told Football Insider that Liverpool could pay mega-money to sign Baleba as Brighton will notcheap a star player leave on the cheap

That is according to former Man United and Blackburn chief scout Mick Brown, who remains very well-connected within the game, as he exclusively told Football Insider that Brighton will demand a “massive” fee to let the 23-year-old leave.

However, Liverpool are believed to be targeting a “top-class goalscorer” and there are concerns about whether Pedro would be the best player for that role.

While he is “certainly” a name on Slot’s list of targets, Liverpool are assessing alternatives to the Brighton star who has scored seven goals in 21 Premier League games this season.

This comes after Brown told Football Insider that Liverpool want to sell Luis Diaz and replace him with a “world-class” forward in an effort to reshape their front line this summer.

Newcastle’s Alexander Isak is one of Liverpool’s targets and is seen as an upgrade on Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota who have also been linked with moves away from Anfield.