Chelsea Eyes £60 Million Premier League Star as Jamie Gittens Deal Nears Completion
Chelsea's pursuit of additional offensive talent hasn't concluded with the widely documented agreement to sign Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens. Brighton & Hove Albion striker João Pedro is reportedly the next target on the club's continuously expanding transfer list.
While the Blues successfully weathered the extreme North Carolina weather conditions—and defeated Benfica—to secure their spot in the Club World Cup quarterfinals, numerous sources indicated they had finally wrapped up intricate negotiations with a potential opponent in the tournament's later rounds.
Transfer talks for Gittens appeared to hit a roadblock before the competition began this month. Nevertheless, with both teams participating in the United States, discussions resumed and progressed to where a preliminary agreement has reportedly been reached, according to The Athletic.
Chelsea's £55 million ($75.5 million) bid for Gittens has been approved, BBC Sport confirmed, with a medical examination to be arranged shortly and the terms of a seven-year contract already settled with the player. Fabrizio Romano reported that Chelsea successfully resisted a last-minute attempt from Bayern Munich to secure Gittens.
Enzo Maresca's notoriously big-spending team have already invested up to £98.9 million ($135.7 million) on new additions this summer. Forward Liam Delap represents one of the more notable acquisitions preparing for Chelsea at the Club World Cup, and supporters will witness the skills of Brazilian prospect Estêvão at Stamford Bridge next season—though only after facing his Palmeiras team in a challenging quarterfinal matchup.
Similar to Gittens, Estêvão plays in wide positions, an area where Pedro Neto, Noni Madueke, Tyrique George and recently Cole Palmer also feature. The battle for attacking roles might not stop there.
Chelsea are reportedly "in discussions" with Brighton regarding a transfer for their adaptable Brazilian attacker João Pedro, The Athletic stated. Newcastle United are also believed to be pursuing the 23-year-old. The Magpies have seen a £50 million ($68.6 million) offer for Pedro rejected by Brighton, who are seeking at least £60 million ($82.3 million), as reported by The Guardian.
Whether Chelsea will agree to pay that valuation remains uncertain—which would push their summer expenditure above £200 million and surpass Liverpool's current record. However, if the choice lies with the player, the Daily Mail suggests that Pedro would prefer Chelsea over Newcastle.