Joao Pedro slapped with £70m price tag as Arsenal consider entering transfer race for Brighton star

BRIGHTON have slapped a whopping £70million price tag on striker Joao Pedro.

Interest in the Brazilian, 23, has heightened as it appears the Seagulls are willing to do business.

ReutersJoao Pedro is attracting plenty of transfer interest[/caption]

But they will only be listening to offers around that figure, a huge mark-up on a player who joined in a £35m deal from Watford in July 2023.

Newcastle, Liverpool Arsenal and Aston Villa are thought to be keen.

Pedro hit ten goals in 27 Prem games last term.

But he was left out of the last two games of the season by boss Fabian Hurzeler after a training-ground bust-up with team-mate Jan Paul van Hecke.

Ahead of Brighton’s final day victory at Tottenham, boss Hurzeler offered an update on Pedro’s situation.

The 32-year-old said: “With Joao, we had a small issue in training, a type which isn’t uncommon from time to time at all football clubs.

“We dealt with it internally and the matter is closed.

“Joao is an incredible football player, he is a match-winner for us and he is a great player and that’s why we invested in him.

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“But there are principles, there are values that are non-negotiable that count for everyone. I don’t make any compromises.

“I am sure that Joao is still a young player, there is still a lot of potential where he will grow.

“I am sure that he will learn from this and come back stronger next season.

“I am really looking forward to seeing him renewed and reinvigorated at his highest peak into our team. That is all I would say to this.

“The only thing is how we dealt with it as a football club, how we dealt with it as a team.”

Meanwhile, the Albion boss is set to offer a new one-year deal to veteran midfielder James Milner.

The 39-year-old revealed this week that he had feared he would not walk again after surgery.

He is 16 league games from breaking Gareth Barry’s  Prem appearance record of 653 matches.

GettyJames Milner has been offered a contract extension[/caption]