Chelsea are set to announce a deal to sign Joao Pedro from Brighton in the coming days, in order to have his potential debut be very soon indeed.
Chelsea wanted Pedro for the Club World Cup, and have until Friday to register the player in their squad in order to make him available to Enzo Maresca in the United States.
The attacking options have been more limited for the Italian out there than many would have thought, even with the inclusion of Liam Delap before the tournament began.
Jadon Sancho and Mykhailo Mudryk are not with the squad, with the former now being back at Manchester United despite his successful loan spell at Stamford Bridge.
Joao Pedro warms up ahead of Newcastle United v Brighton & Hove Albion - Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round
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Chelsea believe Joao Pedro is better than Joao Felix and Christopher Nkunku
Joao Felix has also not travelled, although Christopher Nkunku made his impact on the competition with an extra time goal in the dramatic Round of 16 win over Benfica.
Both players are expected to be on the move this summer. However, finding a permanent suitor does look as if it is going to cause an issue.
Pedro is expected to play in a similar position to where Felix and Nkunku have done in the past for Chelsea, with the role looking a little bloated at this stage.
However, the Blues believe they are upgrading their squad. According to The Guardian, they view the Brazilian as a better for for their side than both current options in the position.
Christopher Nkunku celebrates scoring for his side during Benfica SL v Chelsea FC: Round Of 16 - FIFA Club World Cup 2025
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Potential suitors for Felix and Nkunku
Dario Essugo was handed Joao Felix’s old shirt number when he joined, signalling the end of his time in West London.
Their opponents at the weekend, Benfica, are keen on signing the forward. They would be hoping to get the best out of him again after his indifferent spells across Europe in recent years.
The celebrations of Nkunku’s goal showed he is still a popular member of the first team squad, however there doesn’t look to be much of a place for him in Maresca’s side.
Manchester United have been linked with a deal, however any potential swap for Alejandro Garnacho now looks off the table due to the signing of Jamie Gittens.