Chelsea’s summer transfer priority in the No.9 role has been revealed, with Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez having a role to play in the plans of the Stamford Bridge side.
Nicolas Jackson’s erratic performances this season have forced Enzo Maresca’s side into the transfer market, and with Champions League football now on offer for Chelsea, they have become an altogether more attractive destination.
Numerous strikers have been linked with the Stamford Bridge side and now it has been revealed that Brighton’s Joao Pedro has emerged as their leading candidate.
Talks have already started between Chelsea and Joao Pedro’s entourage, according to Sky Sports Switzerland, with a seven-year contract on the table for the Brazil striker.
Brighton have strong ties with the Blues, having sent them Marc Cucurella and Moises Caicedo in recent years, but they are not about to make a transfer easy in this case. A price tag of €90 million has been slapped on the 23-year-old Brazilian, who scored 10 goals and delivered seven assists in the Premier League this season.
Joao Pedro has an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €61.3m.
How Nunez impacts Chelsea’s transfer plans
Chelsea are bracing themselves for difficult negotiations with Brighton and have lined up an alternative. This is where Nunez becomes an important part of the story.
The Blues will not chase the Liverpool striker directly, but they will target Eintracht Frankfurt hitman Hugo Ekitike if they cannot get Joao Pedro.
The former PSG star has had an asking price of €80-100m slapped on his head but is also a target for Liverpool should they sell Nunez. The Uruguay international has been linked with Atletico Madrid, who are said to have reached an agreement with the player over personal terms, as well as the Saudi Pro League.
The Reds are in “more advanced” decision with Ekitike, and should they push that transfer through, it will force Chelsea to commit to moving for Joao Pedro in a more positive manner.
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