Report: Club will sell £15m Brazil international to Southampton or Wolves

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Flamengo are ready to sell striker Pedro in the summer transfer window with Premier League clubs Wolverhampton Wanderers, Southampton and Crystal Palace interested, Brazilian journalist Jorge Nicola says on his YouTube channel. 

When Guillem Balague broke the news of English interest in the Brazil international centre-forward, you’d have been forgiven for assuming Pedro was in the form of his life on the other side of the Atlantic. 

Well, think again. 

Pedro is now 11 games without a goal in all competitions. His longest drought as a Flamengo player. And the 24-year-old is paying the price, losing his starting spot under former Leicester City and Swansea coach Paolo Sousa. He’s started just one of Flamengo’s four Serie A matches this season, a situation that even reduced his mother to tears recently.  

Is Pedro heading to the Premier League?

Nicola now claims that the 2019 Copa Libertadores winners are willing to sell Pedro to one of his many European suitors, for a fee of around £15 million.

A famously goal-shy Brighton and Hove Albion are also interested.

In an attempt to ward off rival Brazilian clubs, however, it is understood that Flamengo will demand far more than £15 million that should one of their top-flight neighbours come calling. 

Pedro has a £110 million release clause in his contract. The only way the likes of Palmeiras could lure Pedro away from Flamengo is to trigger the clause. Something that looks way beyond even the biggest clubs in South America. 

Pedro, a physical, powerful centre-forward who can lead the line effectively with his 6ft 1ins frame, was one of the most prolific strikers in the country not so long ago. He scored 23 goals in the 2020 season, and a further 18 in 2021.

“I respect Pedro and I think he has to leave Flamengo,” former Brazil ace Ze Elias tells ESPN.

“Look for new air and a new motivation. He has to feel important. He is on the preliminary list of the (Brazilian national team for the Qatar World Cup).”

Wolves, Southampton and Palace are all expected to prioritise a new number nine in the summer window. Raul Jimenez has not quite rediscovered his pre-injury form, while Armando Broja and Christian Benteke are facing uncertain futures at St Mary’s and Selhurst Park.