Chelsea will face Brazilian side Palmeiras in the quarter-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup on Saturday morning.
The Blues defeated Portuguese outfit Benfica 4-1 after extra-time in the last 16, during a game that was delayed by more than two hours due to weather.
Enzo Maresca’s side have looked somewhat unconvincing at time during the tournament, but they will go into Saturday’s meeting with Palmeiras as favourites to progress to the semi-finals, where they could meet Premier League rivals Manchester City.
In the meantime, Chelsea’s summer of spending looks set to continue.
According to Fabrizio Romano, the West London outfit have agreed a deal to sign Brighton and Hove Albion forward Joao Pedro.
He claims that the Blues are set to sign the Brazilian for a fee of more than £50 million, with the 23-year-old set to join up with Maresca’s squad for the remainder of the Club World Cup.
Pedro looks set to join Chelsea after two years with Brighton (Photo: Telephoto Images/Alamy)
Pedro joined the Seagulls from Watford back in 2023 and has since scored 30 goals in 70 games for the south coast side, as well as providing ten assists.
Romano also claims that the player is set to sign a long-term contract with the Blues having agreed a deal that will run until the end of the 2031/32 campaign.
The striker is set to complete a medical with his new club in his native Brazil, before travelling to link up with his new teammates in the United States and be part of Maresca’s squad for the remainder of the tournament.
While Newcastle United were said to be interested in the Brazil international, Romano claims that the player himself was only ever interested in a move to Stamford Bridge.
Pedro will become Chelsea’s fourth signing of the summer after Liam Delap, Dario Essugo and defender Mamadou Sarr.