Brighton forward Joao Pedro has reportedly chosen his next club after receiving transfer offers from Chelsea and Newcastle United.
Pedro has enjoyed two productive seasons on the south coast, scoring 30 goals in all competitions.
The 23-year-old has become a key player for Brighton since being signed from Championship side Watford in 2023.
Pedro’s form has caught the eye of several clubs, with Chelsea and Newcastle already submitting offers to Brighton.
Brighton rejected a £50m bid from Newcastle last week before rebuffing a £58m proposal from Chelsea on Saturday.
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Talks between the clubs are still ongoing with Brighton demanding at least £60m to sell the Brazil international.
Newcastle’s interest is long-standing but Pedro is currently ‘leaning towards a move to Chelsea’, according to the Daily Mail.
Both Chelsea and Newcastle can offer Pedro Champions League football after they finished fourth and fifth respectively last season.
One reason Pedro could be tempted to reject Newcastle in favour of Chelsea is the fact he wants to remain a first-choice striker.
There is little chance of the Brazilian displacing one of the best strikers in the world in Alexander Isak, unless of course he leaves St James’ Park this summer.
A host of clubs are admirers of Isak but he is expected to stay put, with Newcastle valuing him at over £125m.
Chelsea have already signed one striker this summer after Liam Delap completed a £30m deal from Ipswich Town.
But Pedro could fancy his chances of replacing Delap and Nicolas Jackson in the Chelsea team given the former’s inexperience and the latter’s underwhelming 2024-25 campaign.
Ex-Premier League and Germany midfielder Didi Hamann understands Newcastle’s interest in Pedro.
‘Joao Pedro would be a smart signing for Newcastle, but it just depends on if he is happy playing back-up, which is a big if,’ he said earlier this month.
‘I think he’s a very capable player and has done really well for Brighton, but he might see Newcastle and think that eventually he could replace Alexander Isak having already won the fans over by scoring off the bench or whenever he gets his chances.
‘If they don’t challenge for the Premier League or Champions League next season then Isak might want to leave.
‘But Newcastle do need to kick on so it would be a good signing, they need to consolidate after winning a trophy and getting back into the Champions League.
‘They need to pick things up because in the Premier League, overall, it was a bit disappointing at times last season.’
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