---
title: "Leeds: Whites allegedly nearing Joao Pedro capture"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-joao-pedro-ismaila-sarr-transfer-gossip-news-updates/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Daniel Clubbe"
section: "Leeds United News"
published: "2022-08-11T10:41:20Z"
modified: "2022-08-11T10:41:20Z"
---

# Leeds: Whites allegedly nearing Joao Pedro capture

**[Leeds United](https://www.footballfancast.com/leeds-united-news) are reportedly closing in on the signing of Watford striker Joao Pedro, according to Italian outlet [Tuttomercatoweb](https://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/calcio-estero/tmw-leeds-vicino-un-doppio-colpo-dal-watford-a-un-passo-joao-pedro-e-sarr-1715837).**

### The lowdown: Rising star

Signed from Fluminense in January 2020, Pedro took to life in England with impressive ease despite only making 28 senior outings prior to making the switch.

The 20-year-old Brazilian attacker [scored nine times and provided four assists](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/joao-pedro/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/626724/plus/0?saison=2020&verein=&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id=) in 40 appearances for the Hornets in 2020/21 as Watford earned promotion back to the top flight before suffering relegation last term.

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Now, it seems as though Leeds are set to make an attempt to bring Pedro back to the Premier League…

### The latest: Loan move

As per [Tuttomercatoweb](https://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/calcio-estero/tmw-leeds-vicino-un-doppio-colpo-dal-watford-a-un-passo-joao-pedro-e-sarr-1715837), Leeds are ‘one step away’ from signing the talented frontman and have been very ‘active in the last few hours’.

It’s claimed that Victor Orta is closing in on a double swoop from Watford, with [Ismaila Sarr](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-transfer-rumours/leeds-ismaila-sarr-arnaud-kalimuendo-transfer-gossip-news-updates/) potentially arriving at Elland Road on a permanent deal.

The report states that Pedro – who was described as an [‘exciting player’](https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/blackburn-rovers/championship-promotion-race/news/xisco-munoz-lavishes-praise-on-joao-pedro_436650.html) by ex-Hornets boss Xisco Munoz – would ‘arrive on loan’ with no mention of a potential option to buy.

### The verdict: Options required

Even without the possibility of a long-term deal for Pedro on the table, signing the languid [6-foot-tall](https://www.eurosport.com/football/joao-pedro_prs249920/person.shtml) Brazilian would be a smart move from the Leeds hierarchy in order to strengthen Jesse Marsch’s immediate attacking options.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”389016″\]

Despite the Hornets’ difficult campaign, last season, the [£12.6million valued](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/joao-pedro/marktwertverlauf/spieler/626724) starlet scored [four times and registered one assist](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/joao-pedro/leistungsdaten/spieler/626724/plus/0?saison=2021) in 29 appearances across all competitions, operating as a centre-forward, left-winger and right-winger in the process.

Sharing similar stylistic traits to the likes of Antoine Griezmann, Raul Jimenez and Ivan Toney ([FBref](https://fbref.com/en/players/e8832875/Joao-Pedro)), Pedro – who has already [found the net](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/joao-pedro/leistungsdaten/spieler/626724) in the Championship this term – certainly has the potential and the physicality to succeed at the elite level.

Leeds are yet to bolster the striker department following an [injury-hit](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/patrick-bamford/verletzungen/spieler/183334) season for Patrick Bamford and therefore this is a low-risk deal that would make an abundance of sense.