Amid Newcastle United’s ongoing interest in Brighton & Hove Albion’s star forward Joao Pedro, whispers of concern emanate from St James’ Park as Chelsea threaten to usurp their transfer move.
The Brazilian forward, tipped to depart the Seagulls this summer, has caught the eyes of several Premier League heavyweights. Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Newcastle, and Manchester United all view the 23-year-old as a worthy asset, with Brighton reportedly valuing him at a hefty £70 million. Pedro’s impressive tally of 10 goals and six assists in 27 Premier League matches last season underscores his potential.
Since arriving at the Amex Stadium in May 2023 for a £30 million fee, Pedro has been embroiled in some controversy, notably missing the last two fixtures of the 2024/25 season following a reported training altercation with defender Jan Paul van Hecke. Brighton’s head coach, Fabian Hurzeler, played down the incident, suggesting it was a routine training ground issue and affirming that the matter had been resolved internally.
Despite the shadows of disciplinary concerns, Newcastle remain undeterred. Manager Eddie Howe is keen to augment his attacking options, seeing Pedro as a perfect candidate to relieve the goalscoring onus on his £150m-rated talisman, Alexander Isak. However, according to sources at talkSPORT, Chelsea’s interest poses a significant threat.
Blues manager Enzo Maresca, having already secured the services of Liam Delap from Ipswich Town for £30 million, is eager to further strengthen his attacking ranks. Pedro’s versatility — his ability to excel across the front three or in the No.10 role — makes him an attractive prospect for both clubs.
Reports suggest Newcastle are on the brink of making a formal approach for Pedro, yet they tread with caution due to fears of a potential bidding war involving multiple top-flight clubs. Among their adversaries, Chelsea’s prying presence causes Newcastle the most consternation, given the Blues’ recent penchant for signing players from Brighton.
Howe, a long-standing admirer of Pedro, sees his possession of tactical versatility as a potent asset for the Magpies. Chelsea, however, with their history of Brighton acquisitions, stand as formidable competition.
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