Chelsea are in a competitive race with Newcastle to secure the signing of Brighton striker Joao Pedro. Newcastle previously had a bid exceeding £50m rejected by Brighton, who are unwilling to sell the Brazilian international for anything less than their asking price.
Chelsea have expressed interest as well, engaging in discussions about acquiring the 23-year-old, whose addition would enhance their forward options and versatility. This potential signing raises concerns about the future of Christopher Nkunku, who has been strongly linked with a move to Manchester United, as well as Nicolas Jackson.
Jackson recently faced a setback by being sent off during the Club World Cup, which led to a suspension affecting his participation in two competitions, including a previous red card that sidelined him at the end of the Premier League season.
Brighton has turned down several offers from different Premier League clubs, with Liverpool and Arsenal also showing interest in the adaptable forward who can excel as a central striker or out wide.
Chelsea has been proactive in their pursuit, aiming to finalize the deal soon, though the outcome remains uncertain. They have been quite active in the transfer window and are also exploring a deal for Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund.
Brighton initially signed Joao Pedro from Watford for around £30m in the summer of 2023 and will be looking for a significant profit on the player. With a record of 30 goals in 70 appearances for Albion, Joao Pedro has been a long-term target for Newcastle, who had their eyes on him in 2022. However, they now face strong competition from Chelsea and other Premier League teams eager to land the Brazilian.
Earlier this month, Brighton’s manager Hurzeler indicated optimism about having Joao Pedro and Kaoru Mitoma return for pre-season training. Mitoma had garnered interest from the Saudi Pro League last season but chose to remain at Brighton.
“For sure. I’m really looking forward for both of them,” the manager told Sky Sports. “They’re great players and they helped us a lot last season. They’re expected to be back next week.”
Brighton has already made significant investments this summer, acquiring Greek striker Charalampos Kostoulas from Olympiacos for around £30m, with further signings including Tommy Watson and Diego Coppola from Sunderland and Verona, respectively.
“I think they all have great potential. We keep doing our way, signing young players with big potential and trying to develop them,” Hurzeler added. “That’s what we’ll try to do with these new signings and I’m sure they will make us better.”
