Watford fear Liverpool will hijack striker deal by triggering £17.6m release clause - Sources
Transfers

Watford fear Liverpool will hijack striker deal by triggering £17.6m release clause - Sources

Wayne Veysey
Wayne Veysey

Founder & Managing Director AUTHORITY Former chief correspondent at Evening Standard, Goal and Press Association with nearly three decades in national, regional and digital news and sports journalism. Wayne directs the network’s news strategy and high-level operations. FOCUS Editorial direction for the 11-site network and newsroom management. THE BRIEF Wayne oversees the network’s editorial standards across the network. He provides the final sign-off on all headline scoops, ensuring content across all platforms meets the standards required for a high-velocity newsroom.

Published on: 

Watford fear Liverpool will hijack their deal to sign Fluminese forward Joao Pedro next January, Football Insider understands.

The Brazilian sensation, 17, signed an agreement last year costing £2.2million rising to £6.6million to join the Hornets in January of next year when he will have turned 18.

A Watford source has told Football Insider that reports in Brazil that the deal includes a £17.6million release clause that can be triggered by a rival club even before he moves to Vicarage Road is correct.

Liverpool are paying close attention to the terms of Pedro's agreement with Watford and have been given encouragement the rising star could be tempted to take advantage of the clause and switch clubs.

The Hertfordshire outfit responded on their official Twitter account to the striker's remarkable performance for Fluminese in their 4-1 win over Atletico Nacional on Thursday night - he scored a hat-trick and bagged an assist in the space of 30 minutes by proclaiming, 'See you in January'.

Watford could lose the striker before he even officially joins, although Liverpool or any other buyer would not only have to pay £17.6million to buy him out of the deal but pay Fluminese a compensation fee for the £6.6million bonus they would not be getting.

The Merseyside giants have been alerted to the teenager's talent following his astonishing introduction to senior football in his homeland.

Pedro has scored seven goals in his last 10 games, making a better start to first-team football than the likes of Ronaldo and Neymar.

In other Liverpool news, it can be REVEALED that an Anfield attacker has rejected a new five-year contract and he is set to join one of their Premier League top-six rivals.

Liverpool FC
Watford
www.footballinsider247.com