Chelsea battling Premier League rivals for Joao Pedro after bid for Brighton star rejected

Joao Pedro has thrived for Brighton in the Premier League since joining from Watford but the Seagulls face a tall order to keep hold of the Brazilian international

Chelsea are battling it out with Newcastle to sign Brighton striker Joao Pedro. Newcastle have already had a £50m-plus bid turned down by Brighton who will not allow the Brazil international to go on the cheap.

Chelsea are also keen and have held discussions over signing the 23-year-old who would add options and versatility to their forward line. That would raise serious question marks over the futures of Christopher Nkunku who has been heavily linked with Manchester United and also Nicolas Jackson.

Jackson was sent off in the Club World Cup which means he has been serving a ban in two separate competitions after missing the end of the Premier League season after getting a red card.

Brighton have rejected bids from two separate Premier League clubs with Liverpool and Arsenal also having been linked with the versatile forward who can play through the middle and wide.

Chelsea have held discussions but are now pushing to get a deal done and it remains to be seen whether they can agree a deal. Chelsea have been very active in this window as they are still looking to get a deal done for Borussia Dortmund ’s Jamie Gittens.

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Brighton signed Pedro from Watford in a deal worth around £30m in the summer of 2023 and will want to get a big profit. Pedro, who has scored 30 goals in 70 Albion appearances, is a long-term target of Newcastle as who were also keen in 2022. But now Newcastle face a fight on their hands with Chelsea and other Premier League clubs keen on the Brazilian.

Pedro was banished from Fabian Hurzeler’s squad for the final two Premier League matches of the season following an alleged training ground spat with Dutch defender Jan Paul van Hecke. Now his future could be elsewhere if anyone can meet Brighton’s price.

Earlier this month, Brighton boss Hurzeler suggested he expects to have Joao Pedro and Kaoru Mitoma back for pre-season training. Mitoma was the subject of interest from the Saudi Pro League last season but ended up staying put.

“For sure. I’m really looking forward for both of them,” the boss tols Sky Sports. “They’re great players and they helped us a lot last season. They’re expected to be back next week.”

Brighton have already spent big this summer, with Greek striker Charalampos Kostoulas joining from Olympiacos for around £30m. Tommy Watson and Diego Coppola have also completed moves, 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.”

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