Chelsea ‘to consider’ Brentford’s Thiago after No.9 pipped Pedro to Brazil squad | OneFootball

Chelsea are weighing up a move for Brentford striker Igor Thiago as they seek an elite No.9, according to TEAMtalk.

Their summer plans are set to shift after it was announced Xabi Alonso will replace Liam Rosenior at Stamford Bridge. Alonso will become manager rather than head coach, pointing to a tweak in BlueCo’s approach, and a top-class No.9 remains the priority. Having tracked Thiago across the season, the club believe his presence and penalty-box instincts could add an edge.

Any pursuit would be costly and competitive, with Atletico Madrid and Juventus also interested. Thiago has 22 league goals after 37 games and is under contract until 2032, leaving Brentford in a strong position to demand a fee reportedly as high as £90m, roughly triple what they paid Club Brugge in 2024.

Chelsea’s current centre-forwards have struggled, with Liam Delap and Marc Guiu managing one Premier League goal between them heading into the final game of 2025-26, amid doubts over Delap after his £30m move from Ipswich. Joao Pedro, signed for £60m from Brighton, won Player of the Season with 18 goals and will surely be central to Alonso’s plans.

Thiago pipped Pedro to Brazil’s 2026 World Cup squad when Carlo Ancelotti named a 26-strong list on Tuesday. Pedro later posted that he had given his all, was disappointed not to realise his dream, but would back the team.

“He said my name. I’m going to play in my first World Cup. It’s an honour,” Thiago said, in comments carried by UOL, adding that he struggled to put his gratitude into words.

Source: Hounslow Herald