Premier League giants Chelsea are reportedly preparing a bid worth £50 million to sign Brighton & Hove Albion forward Joao Pedro. According to Mail Sport, the Blues are keen on pushing forward in negotiations for the Brazilian’s transfer.
Pedro joined Brighton from Watford for a reported €34.2 million fee in January 2023. He enjoyed a solid debut campaign in the 2023-24 season, bagging 20 goals and three assists in 40 games across all competitions.
This season, he has racked up 10 goals and seven assists in 30 appearances, impressing everyone with his silky dribbling, lethal finishing, and aerial prowess. His performances have caught the eye of several top English sides, including Arsenal, Liverpool, and Chelsea.
Enzo Maresca’s Blues have been searching for a proper marksman up top in the last few transfer windows without much success. Although Nicolas Jackson has had a decent 2024-25 campaign, his inconsistent finishing has left fans frustrated on multiple occasions.
A host of forwards have been linked with a move to Chelsea in the upcoming transfer window. Long-time target Victor Osimhen is likely to leave Napoli in the summer. Meanwhile, Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho, RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, and Borussia Dortmund‘s Jamie Gittens are also on their radar.
However, with Brighton’s asking price for Joao Pedro (£50 million) well within their reach, the Blues are expected to take negotiations to the next level. Mail Sport has reported that officials from Stamford Bridge have already held a meeting about a potential move for Pedro earlier this week, and an official bid seems imminent.
According to Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Ipswich Town forward Liam Delap has already met with representatives from Chelsea and Manchester United to discuss a potential move.
After graduating from Manchester City’s academy, the Englishman was loaned out to multiple EFL Championship sides like Stoke City, Preston North End, and Hull City. Post Ipswich’s promotion to the Premier League, he joined them for a reported €17.85 million fee in July 2024.
Delap enjoyed a stellar debut campaign for the Tractor Boys, racking up 12 goals and two assists in 36 league fixtures. Although he scored important goals against top sides like Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, and Aston Villa, he was unable to prevent his side from getting relegated.
With an attractive release clause of £30 million in his contract, top English sides have begun swarming over him for his signature. Amid the rumours, Romano (via Caught Offside) has claimed that the 22-year-old has already held talks with both Chelsea and Manchester United.
The Italian journalist further mentioned that Delap has drawn attention from top Bundesliga sides, who are willing to offer him an important role. However, he asserted that the English youngster is keen on continuing his stay in the Premier League for now.
A Borussia Dortmund fan, Aaryan had his first tryst with football during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Despite his young mind being influenced by Lionel Messi’s exploits, his favorite World Cup moment is Cristiano Ronaldo’s stunning free-kick against Spain from the 2018 version. He strongly believes that Jude Bellingham and Florian Wirtz can replicate the Messi-Ronaldo rivalry due to their respective potentials.
Aaryan, who has been on commentary panels for football and cricket tournaments at his university, is a huge admirer of Achraf Hakimi for the Moroccan’s loan stint in Dortmund between 2018 and 2020. His favorite manager is Jurgen Klopp, who impressed him with his excellent tactical nous and benignant man-management skills.
When he is not scouring the internet for unique statistics, Aaryan follows the Indian Super League, the A-League, and the Saudi Pro League among others. He is an avid quizzer and debater, and a trained classical and western musician who likes to rock out for his college band, Euphony, as lead vocalist and guitarist.
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