Chelsea plot bold £50m swoop to boost Club World Cup hopes | OneFootball

Chelsea are weighing a move for Brighton forward João Pedro as they prepare to face Flamengo in the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup. The interest, first reported by the Daily Mail, suggests Chelsea could offer as much as £50 million for the 23-year-old, who was signed by Brighton from Watford last year for £30 million.

João Pedro, a former Fluminense product and recent Brazil international, is enjoying an impressive season. He has scored 10 times and assisted seven in club competitions, earning nominations for Premier League Under-23 Player of the Season and drawing the attention of several big clubs. Notably, his relationship with Brighton has come under scrutiny after a training ground clash with teammate Jan Paul Van Hecke led to his omission from the squad against Liverpool.

Chelsea view João Pedro as a potential addition through a special FIFA transfer window created specifically for the Club World Cup, which takes place from June 1 to June 10. Talks of a deal also include the possibility of sending players on loan the other way, as Chelsea attempt to sweeten the terms for Brighton.

Fluminense, João Pedro’s boyhood club, could also benefit from any move thanks to FIFA's solidarity mechanism, potentially receiving a percentage of the transfer fee.

If the transfer is completed ahead of the competition, João Pedro could line up against Flamengo, Chelsea’s likely opponents in the second round of Group D on June 20 in Philadelphia. His previous encounters with Flamengo in Brazilian football saw him score once in five matches, but without registering a win—three defeats and two draws.

As Chelsea look to bolster their attacking options for the Club World Cup, Flamengo will be monitoring developments closely. While Flamengo are dealing with their own issues in attack, including uncertainty over Michael’s role after a string of unconvincing performances, Chelsea’s pursuit of João Pedro adds intrigue to the lead-up to their possible June meeting on the global stage.

Source: Lance