Joao Pedro scored a hat-trick as Chelsea defeated Western Sydney Wanderers 6-4 in a pulsating pre-season friendly in Australia on Tuesday morning.
With manager Xabi Alonso taking charge for the first time, teenager Dastan Satpaev put the Blues in front before two quick goals from the hosts turned the game on its head.
Dario Essugo then equalised for Chelsea, before Wanderers once again took the lead after the break.
Alonso made nine changed shortly after the hour mark and one of those substitutes – Pedro – quickly set up Jamie Gittens to draw the Blues level for the second time, before the Brazilian striker netted a ten-minute treble to ensure victory for the west London side.
Next up for the Blues is a game against rivals Tottenham Hotspur in Sydney, but in the meantime it has emerged that the Blues have agreed a deal to sign a veteran Premier League striker.
Welbeck hasn’t played for England since 2018
According to Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea have reached an agreement to sign forward Danny Welbeck from Brighton and Hove Albion.
The journalist claims that the Seagulls have agreed to allow Welbeck to leave the club after the player formally requested a move to Stamford Bridge.
Personal terms haver already been agreed with the Englishman, who is set to undergo a medical before signing a contract that will run until the end of the 2027/28 campaign.
Welbeck joined Brighton as a free agent in 2020 after his contract with Watford came to an end, and he has since netted 51 goals in 201 games for the south coast side across all competitions.
Last term the ex-England striker scored 13 Premier League goals, and his impressive displays appear to have persuaded those in charge of Chelsea’s recruitment that he is the ideal candidate to add experience to Alonso’s squad in attack.