Joao Pedro’s move from Brighton to Chelsea appears to be imminent, and the transfer has plenty of different talking points.
Yet again, Chelsea are about to raid Premier League rivals Brighton for one of their star names. Joao Pedro, 23, is expected to become the latest individual to leave the Seagulls to join the Blues.
It’s been reported that Pedro has now completed his Chelsea medical and will sign a seven-year contract on Tuesday.
The Brazilian attacker has developed in English football with Watford and then Brighton in the last few years, which has finally earned him a high-profile transfer to one of England’s giant clubs.
Club Appearances Goals Assists
Watford 109 24 8
Brighton 70 30 10
Joao Pedro’s club record with English teams
Ally McCoist as a pundit in a Champions League match between Manchester City and Inter Milan.
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Ally McCoist predicts Chelsea to use Joao Pedro in wide areas
TalkSPORT pundit Ally McCoist has given a thumbs up on Chelsea’s imminent deal to sign Pedro.
He’s actually made the interesting prediction that he expects to see the versatile forward operating a lot in wide areas, something he’s capable of doing with his speed and dribbling.
When discussing Pedro’s expected move to Chelsea, McCoist told talkSPORT: “I like him. I think he’s a good player. I don’t think there’s any getting away from that. He’s fitting the bill that they are signing at this moment of time in terms of his age and all that kind of stuff. Where is he going to play? You’d probably think he’s going to come off a side. He can play 10. I’m not sure he’s an out-and-out centre-forward…
“I don’t think it’s a signing that’s made me go, ‘Wow, there is a title-winning signing.’ But I can see why they’ve signed him. Would he improve them? Yeah, he probably would. I’m not sure by how much, though. He’s a player I like. I think there’s improvement in him.”
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Recent claims suggest that Chelsea plan to use Pedro as a striker or a winger, and his versatility is a huge tick for the club.
Versatility is definitely a useful tool to have when you play in a Maresca team.
Brighton attacker Joao Pedro in the Premier League match against Fulham.
Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
Chelsea’s options in wide areas
All of a sudden, Chelsea could be pretty stacked with quality options in the wide positions.
If Pedro is competing for a wide role, he could fight against the likes of Pedro Neto, Noni Madueke and Estevao Willian. In addition, Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens is expected to join Chelsea imminently as the club continues to be active this summer.
It feels like Neto is establishing himself as a nailed-on starter with some eye-catching displays on the wing, but the opposite flank feels quite up for grabs.