What someone high up at Brighton has been going around telling people about Joao Pedro and Liverpool

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Liverpool are on the verge of signing some big talent but a new number nine is yet to come through the door.

The Reds may have somewhat cruised to the Premier League title, but reinforcements are being brought in to try and ensure that they retain it next season.

That is one of the hardest jobs in football, but signing players like Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz will certainly aid them in their quest to achieve this.

However, having all the creative prowess is good if there is someone on the end of the pass to score, and Liverpool lack that in a central position.

Darwin Nunez has been in charge of the number nine shirt but he looks like he will vacate it for good this summer, leaving a void of opportunity.

Brighton’s Joao Pedro was a player heavily linked at one point and would have been a transfer that made a lot of sense, although someone high up at the club may be the reason why this was the case.

Brighton used Liverpool to increase Joao Pedro’s price

It is very common in football to use other clubs to create more interest and a potential bidding war for a star player, something that is also very smart.

And, according to Lewis Steele, Liverpool never had as strong an interest in the Brazilian as the rest of the media made out.

“Joao Pedro has been linked, but he’s not going to happen,” Steele said on a live stream posted on his YouTube channel.

“Funnily enough, I can say this now, I wouldn’t have said this at the time. In March, someone that I trust texted me to say someone high up at Brighton was going around saying Liverpool had asked about Joao Pedro.

“I tried to verify that, but everything I got back was that it was absolutely fabricated. Brighton were using Liverpool in that instance to drive a market for him, that’s an interesting anecdote.”

What other strikers could Liverpool get instead?

With the Joao Pedro links perhaps not as strong as made out and the rumours surrounding him joining Liverpool being all but silent, the Reds will likely look elsewhere.

Hugo Ekitike is one of the favourites, although his £85m price tag is what has put many clubs off, including Chelsea who have stalled on the deal.

Viktor Gyokeres remains a target – an unlikely one at that – and so does Benjamin Sesko, although he looks more likely to join Arsenal at this stage.

Despite a plethora of options, the quality of these, as well as the hefty fees needed to bring them in, is what is putting clubs off, suggesting Liverpool might bide their time and wait for an Alexander Isak to become available.