Report: Arsenal and Chelsea now both want to sign £65m Brazilian forward who’s recently lost starting XI spot

Thu 5 January 2023 16:15, UK

Arsenal and Chelsea have locked horns over Mykhaylo Mudryk in recent days.

The Gunners have made the Ukraine international their top January target.

Likewise, Mudryk prefers the prospect of joining Arsenal.

However, the Blues have joined the race in hope of convincing Shakhtar Donetsk to green-light a move.

Mudryk is not the only player Arsenal and Chelsea want, according to a report from Portugal.

Record – via – claims the Gunners and the Blues both want Pedro winger Eduardo Gabriel Aquino Cossa, aka Pepê.

The Portuguese outlet notes how the 25-year-old has recently lost his starting place at Porto.

However, this doesn’t mean the club no longer wants him.

Dragons manager Sérgio Conceição wants to keep the ‘hard core’ of the team in the January window, just like the club board.

This desire to keep the team intact comes amid interest in Pepê from the Premier League.

Pepê is apparently ‘very coveted’ by Arsenal and Chelsea.

However, the versatile attacker wouldn’t come cheap for the Gunners and the Blues.

He is currently protected by a release clause worth €75m (£70m), added in his new contract last year.

Arsenal and Chelsea target Pepê – factfile

Pepê came through the ranks at Foz do Iguacu, before joining Gremio in 2016.

He spent five years at Grêmio, where he made 144 appearances and scored 32 goals.

Pepê also won the Campeonato Gaucho four consecutive times.

In 2021, Porto signed the former Brazil Under-23 forward for a reported €15m (£13m).

Pepê has made 68 appearances for Porto, registering nine goals and 12 assists.

He won last season’s Primeira Liga title and Portuguese Cup, as well as the latest Portuguese Super Cup.

Pepê is incredibly versatile. He has actually made more appearances at right-back than anywhere else so far.

He has also featured on both wings further up the line. And he can play in the middle.

Mikel Arteta has shown this season what he can do with versatile players.

And of course, Arsenal signed his former teammate Fabio Vieira in the summer.

However, Chelsea cannot be discounted as a difficult opponent in the transfer market.

And it remains to be seen whether Porto would be willing to negotiate a fee rather than just go by the release clause.