Football
Chelsea ready to pay £50m and offer players in deal to sign Premier League star ahead of Arsenal
Chelsea are reportedly stepping up their pursuit of Brighton striker Joao Pedro, indicating they are prepared to offer £50 million along with several players who are surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge.
The west London club has already bolstered their attack this summer by securing England U21 forward Liam Delap in a £30 million move from Ipswich Town, but Enzo Maresca wants to further strengthen his front line.
Nicolas Jackson struggled to make a consistent impact last season, and Chelsea are now actively reshaping their attacking options. Christopher Nkunku appears to be heading for the exit after an underwhelming stint, and the Blues have also been linked with Hugo Ekitike.
However, with Frankfurt valuing the French striker at around £85 million, Chelsea are exploring more cost-effective alternatives. Pedro, who has found the net 30 times over the past two seasons since joining Brighton from Watford for £30 million, fits that profile.
The 23-year-old Brazil international has grown into a key figure for Brighton and has caught the attention of multiple top clubs. Brighton are said to value Pedro at around £60 million, but Chelsea are hopeful that a cash-plus-player offer will be enough to get a deal over the line, according to reports from the Daily Mail.
Given the frequent transfer dealings between Chelsea and Brighton in recent years, talks between the two sides are thought to be progressing positively.
As part of the proposed deal, Chelsea may include a number of players who could be made available this summer. The likes of Nkunku, Mykhailo Mudryk, Noni Madueke, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall have all been mentioned in speculation around potential departures.
Bringing in Pedro would not only deepen Chelsea’s attacking unit but could also place added pressure on Arsenal, who are reportedly tracking the striker as well in their search for more firepower under Mikel Arteta.
Liverpool are understood to be admirers of Pedro too, though their main focus is currently on Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz, whose transfer fee could exceed £100 million.
Meanwhile, Chelsea’s acquisition of Delap was finalized earlier this week, with the 22-year-old forward set to wear the No. 9 shirt at Stamford Bridge next season. The club beat Manchester United to his signature after he scored 12 goals in a challenging campaign for relegated Ipswich.
Following his arrival, Delap expressed his excitement about joining Chelsea, noting his childhood admiration for the club and his ambition to help bring trophies back to west London. He emphasized the hunger within the squad and the club’s desire to return to the summit of European football.
Chelsea’s promising finish to the 2024-25 campaign, which included a top-four finish and winning the Conference League, has raised expectations heading into the next season. The squad, including new signings like Delap, is now preparing for the Club World Cup set to kick off in the United States on June 15.
Juventus are reportedly set to compete with Napoli for the signing of Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho this summer.
The 25-year-old is back at Old Trafford following a season-long loan at Chelsea, where he made a solid impact with five goals and 10 assists across 41 competitive appearances. He also found the net in Chelsea’s convincing 4-1 victory in last month’s Conference League final, though his efforts were not enough to convince the club to make the deal permanent.
Chelsea were initially expected to secure Sancho for £25 million as part of their loan agreement but ultimately chose to walk away from the obligation. As a result, they were required to pay Manchester United a £5 million penalty fee.
Despite being under contract with United, Sancho is not considered part of manager Ruben Amorim’s long-term plans. If he fails to secure a transfer in the coming weeks, the winger is expected to be left out of the club’s pre-season tour to the United States.
Juventus enter the race for Sancho
Napoli had previously emerged as the frontrunner for Sancho’s signature, with the player reportedly reaching a verbal agreement with the Serie A champions. However, a deal between Manchester United and Napoli has yet to be finalized.
According to Sky Sports News, Juventus have now entered the picture, exploring the financial and contractual terms of a potential move. The Turin-based side is seriously evaluating the opportunity to sign the England international, who has earned 23 senior caps.
Is Juventus the right fit for Sancho?
Juventus manager Igor Tudor is preparing for his first full season in charge after leading the team to a top-four finish last term. Known for deploying a 3-4-2-1 formation, Tudor’s system does not traditionally utilize wide wingers like Sancho.
If he joins Juventus, Sancho would likely compete for one of the two attacking midfield spots behind the main striker—a role that currently sees strong competition from Kenan Yildiz, Francisco Conceicao, and Nico Gonzalez. Unless one of these players is sold, Sancho might struggle to find regular playing time in Turin.
Napoli, on the other hand, could offer a more suitable environment for the former Borussia Dortmund star. With the club still looking to replace Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who departed in January, Sancho may find more opportunities to thrive in his preferred position on the wing.
Nicolas Jackson endured a nightmare cameo as Chelsea collapsed in the second half against Flamengo during their FIFA Club World Cup clash, suffering a 3-1 defeat that puts their tournament hopes at risk.
Chelsea initially took the lead through Pedro Neto, whose composed finish through the goalkeeper’s legs gave the Premier League side a promising start. However, the momentum quickly shifted after the break.
Flamengo responded in ruthless fashion, netting twice in quick succession. Substitute Bruno Henrique capitalized on a defensive lapse to slot home from close range, followed by another back-post finish from Danilo that stunned the Blues and put the Brazilian side ahead.
Matters worsened for Chelsea when substitute Nicolas Jackson was shown a straight red card just four minutes after entering the pitch.
His dangerous challenge saw his studs connect with Lucas Ayrton’s shin, leaving the referee with little choice but to send him off immediately.
Flamengo sealed the win with a third goal, as Wallace Yan added the final blow to a chaotic second half that Chelsea will want to forget.
The result means Chelsea must now beat African side ES Tunis in their next match on Tuesday to progress to the last 16. However, finishing second in the group could set them up for a much tougher path, likely facing the winner of Group C, which may include Bundesliga heavyweights Bayern Munich.
Flamengo’s victory strengthens their bid to top Group D and extends the unbeaten run of South American teams in the Club World Cup’s newly expanded format.
Flamengo vs Chelsea Highlight
Monterrey secured their spot in this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup by winning the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League, now known as the CONCACAF Cup.
Fast forward four years, and the team returned to the international stage at the Rose Bowl with only one player from that title-winning squad still in the lineup: veteran goalkeeper Esteban Andrada. The club had not lifted any silverware since that 2021 triumph, which made what happened next even more unexpected.
In a surprising twist, Monterrey opened the scoring against Inter Milan in the 25th minute, as Sergio Ramos delivered a perfectly placed header.
The Spanish defender, who joined the Mexican outfit earlier this year on a one-year deal reportedly worth $4 million, had cited the Club World Cup as a major influence in his decision to sign. His goal sent the Monterrey fans into wild celebrations.
However, their joy didn’t last long. Inter’s star forward Lautaro Martínez—fresh off a World Cup win—responded with a close-range finish following a perfectly orchestrated set-piece.
The Argentine’s goal silenced the Rayados-dominated crowd and brought the game level at 1-1 before halftime.
The second half saw both teams tighten up defensively, limiting each other’s chances as the game wore on.
Inter, still recovering from a heavy defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in last month’s UEFA Champions League final, looked eager to reassert themselves. But it was Monterrey who rose to the occasion, matching their European opponents stride for stride and leaving the pitch with their heads held high after a gritty performance.
Monterrey 1-1 Inter Milan Highlights
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