Brighton just have a knack for it, don’t they?
The Seagulls are almost flawless in the transfer market. Practically every single transfer decision they make turns out to be a genius decision. Even their risks pay off.
Because, if we’re being completely honest, signing Joao Pedro from Championship side Watford for a club record fee of £30million could’ve been categorised as a risk.
Pedro had just 23 goals for the Hornets across 104 league appearances. Of those, 20 had arrived in the English second tier. His best haul in a season was just 11 goals. On paper, he had done nothing to justify the fee paid by the Seagulls. He had shown nothing to suggest he could be a leading centre-forward for a team with aspirations of challenging for a European place.
Safer bets had flopped in England’s top flight.
Yet Brighton, viewed by the masses as savvy operators, thought Pedro was someone they should gamble on. The Premier League side are now probably feeling smug.
Because there’s now a lot of talk to suggest the 23-year-old could soon be on the move after a bright start to the 204/25 campaign. The Brazil international finished his debut season at the Amex with 20 goals across all competitions including nine in the Premier League. He’s already chipped in with four goals across seven appearances this season. His injury lay-off did nothing to quell his momentum.
Pedro kicked off the season with the winner against Manchester United and he then netted the equaliser against Arsenal, at the Emirates, before picking up an injury against Nottingham Forest.
He missed the entirety of October and returned in November. The versatile forward was brought off the bench against Manchester City and he completely transformed the game for Fabian Hurzeler’s team. He netted the equaliser and then set up Matt O’Riley’s winner just five minutes later.
The Brighton No9 returned to the starting XI for the game against Bournemouth. He scored the opener and then assisted Kaoru Mitoma for what turned out to be the winner. The assist was exceptional. He picked the ball up just outside of the area, composed himself and then threaded a perfectly weighted pass into the feet of the Japan international. It was a pass that the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Martin Odegaard would’ve been delighted with.
Afterwards, the Brighton boss praised the assist.
“Not bad”, then laughed at his understatement, before adding, “It shows that he has special quality. We shouldn’t hide behind the message, it’s the truth. Every team in the Premier League has this one key player, and in possession he is unbelievable. He makes a difference for us, but I never judge him by goals or making assists. For me, it is so important also how he works against the ball. He invests a lot out of possession. He does a lot of work in the shadows, work that is unseen, and that is why it is very good to have him as a leader on the pitch.”
There had been doubts over Pedro’s future during the summer months. Brighton went on a spending spree and bolstered their attacking ranks. Georginio Rutter arrived from Leeds in a deal that saw him become the club’s most expensive signing. At first, there was talk they might be gearing up to replace him. However, it now appears as though these attacking additions were signed to supplement the No9. He already looks to be on the same wavelength as Rutter while there’s always been an understanding with Danny Welbeck.
If this early season form continues, many of Europe’s elite are going to have the pleasure of negotiating with Brighton this summer. They banked over £100million for Moises Caicedo. You wouldn’t be surprised to see them get close to that if Pedro was to be sold.
There could even be a bidding war with Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea seemingly in the market for a No9 at the end of the season.
Pedro could’ve been a risky signing. Instead, he’s set to make Brighton a lot of money. Yet another transfer masterstroke by the Seagulls.
