Chelsea continued their Premier League campaign with a hotly-contested derby against Fulham at Stamford Bridge, as Joao Pedro continued his brilliant start at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea have ripped up last season’s attack, letting Nicolas Jackson leave as he closes in on a loan move to Bayern Munich. Noni Madueke has joined Arsenal, with Liam Delap and Estevao Willian joining Pedro in a new-look front line.
All three new faces started in the Premier League clash vs Fulham on Saturday, with Pedro nodding in his third goal of the season from a corner on the stroke of half-time. That follows three goals at the FIFA Club World Cup.
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And former Chelsea winger Joe Cole feels Pedro is a signing who will go under the radar this season, even at his £60m price tag.
Joe Cole makes Joao Pedro prediction for Chelsea, says he ‘has everything’ as a forward
Speaking ahead of Chelsea’s clash with Fulham, former winger Joe Cole told TNT Sports that Pedro offers his new side a tactical versatility that they had previously lacked.
And with a potential opening to Brazil’s World Cup squad next summer, Cole believes Pedro will prove to be an inspired signing.
Liam Delap comes on in place of Joao Pedro during Chelsea v Crystal Palace in the Premier League
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“Joao Pedro has got everything, what he brings to this team is he can play off the left, as nine, as ten, even off the right. He brings that tactical flexibility,” Cole said.
“It’s very good to sign Brazilian players in a World Cup year, they want to get to that national team so much. He’s started brilliantly. I think Chelsea have signed a better player than they realise.”
Joe Cole compares fellow Chelsea signing Estevao to Neymar, ‘that type of energy’
Another summer arrival, Estevao has proven to be a popular addition to Enzo Maresca’s attack, and Cole couldn’t hide his excitement at the young Brazilian’s flair.
Comparing him to former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar, Cole said: “What an exciting player. I watched him at the Club World Cup [for Palmeiras] and he was direct and raw. Then he came to Chelsea. The crowd respond to him, he gets it and drives at players.
“He gives me Neymar vibes. That type of energy. A brilliant, brilliant footballer. When you come and watch football, you want to watch footballers who excite you. And he will excite you.”
And Cole’s positivity around Chelsea’s summer business continued when he said Liam Delap could emerge as one of the ‘signings of the season’ come the end of the campaign.
“He could be one of the best signings of the season. I love this kid. I love the aggression,” Cole said. “He’s winning everything. If he’s playing you at anything, he’s trying to win. He’s hustle and bustle.
“I can see defenders when they’re playing against him just shaking their heads, he’s giving them no space. He’s very much a throwback, the way he does it. I think at the end of the season we look back at that signing, for £30m, and go ‘yeah, that was top’.”
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TNT Sports pundit Joe Cole during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur at Etihad Stadium
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