Osimhen alternative? Chelsea rival Arsenal for RECORD-BREAKING transfer

Cameron Smith

Updated: 13 Dec 2024 21:11 GMT
3 min read

Victor Osimhen, Chelsea, Galatasaray — © IMAGO

Chelsea are reportedly interested in rivalling Liverpool for the signing of Brighton & Hove Albion forward Joao Pedro in 2025.

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The Brazilian has four goals and three assists in nine Premier League appearances so far this season and he has been heavily linked with a move to Liverpool as a result of his form since the start of the current campaign.

But, Chelsea have now joined the race to sign the Brighton star, according to TBR Football, as Enzo Maresca continues to search for forward reinforcements.

The Blues were expected to sign Victor Osimhen from Napoli this summer, but they were unable to finalise an agreement and the Nigeria international ended up joining Galatasaray on loan instead.

Chelsea remain interested in Osimhen, while they are also reportedly keeping tabs on the likes of Liam Delap, Evan Ferguson and Jonathan David.

However, Pedro has now emerged as an alternative transfer target for the Stamford Bridge outfit, with Chelsea preparing for Christopher Nkunku’s potential departure in 2025.

The France international has been heavily linked with an exit amid his lack of game time in the Premier League so far this season, and he could push to leave west London following interest from Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United.

However, Chelsea are set to face significant competition in the race to sign Pedro, with Arsenal, Bayern Munich, PSG, Liverpool and Newcastle United also interested in landing the 23-year-old next summer.

Joao Pedro to Chelsea?

If Chelsea opt to pay Brighton’s €120m asking price for Pedro, he would become the most expensive Brazilian player to ever join a Premier League club, eclipsing the current record held by Antony (€95m to Man Utd in 2022).

He would also become the sixth player to join Chelsea from Brighton since Clearlake Capital took over as owners in 2022.

Pedro has three-and-a-half years remaining on his current Brighton contract, while his Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) stands at €19.1m.