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Chelsea have muscled in on Newcastle’s attempt to sign the Brighton forward João Pedro. The Brazil international is a key target for Newcastle, who have already had a £50m bid for him rejected.
However, Chelsea are also interested in the former Watford attacker and believe they can convince him to join them after opening talks with Brighton over a deal. Sam Jewell, who brought João Pedro to Brighton and has since joined Chelsea’s recruitment team, has been influential in the push for him.
Brighton are holding out for £60m for João Pedro, who has scored 30 goals in 70 appearances for the south coast club. There is hope from Chelsea and Newcastle that a lower fee can be agreed. Chelsea have had an initial approach knocked back but negotiations are ongoing and there is a feeling that the 23-year-old will favour a move to Stamford Bridge over Newcastle.
João Pedro’s appeal to Chelsea is partly down to his versatility and Premier League experience. Chelsea want an attacker to provide variety and depth in creative positions. They have also considered West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus. It is anticipated that space will be found for João Pedro in Enzo Maresca’s squad by selling João Felix and Christopher Nkunku. Chelsea are still looking for a left winger and remain in talks with Borussia Dortmund over Jamie Gittens.
Elsewhere, Sunderland are set to beat Leeds and a host of European clubs to the signing of Habib Diarra from Strasbourg for a club-record £30m as they prepare to return to the Premier League.
The Senegal midfielder, who scored in the 3-1 defeat of England at the City Ground this month, is expected on Wearside to complete his medical after Sunderland had an offer worth an initial €31.5m (£27m) offer plus €4m in add-ons accepted.
Leeds had also been hoping to bring Diarra to Elland Road and saw a £24m bid rejected last week, while Milan and Eintracht Frankfurt were among the 21-year-old’s other suitors.
But with Sunderland having identified Diarra as their preferred option to replace Jobe Bellingham, who has joined Borussia Dortmund for an initial £27.8m, their improved bid was enough to convince Strasbourg – who are owned by BlueCo, the same parent company that owns Chelsea – to accept their offer.
It represents something of a coup for the Championship playoff winners as they prepare to return to the Premier League after an eight-year absence, having already signed Enzo Le Fée from Roma after he spent the second half of last season on loan in the north-east. Their Wembley hero Tom Watson has already departed to Brighton for £10m, while they have also explored re-signing Jordan Henderson from Ajax.
The fee for Diarra, who was born in Senegal but represented France at under-21 level before making his senior debut for the African country last year, surpasses the £20m they paid for Le Fée. Sunderland are also thought to be interested in the Nice goalkeeper Marcin Bulka, who had stints at Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain, as well as Sassuolo’s French winger Armand Laurienté.
Paul Pogba has joined Monaco on a free transfer after signing a two-year contract, the Ligue 1 club said on Saturday, as the 32-year-old French midfielder looks to revive his career following a doping ban.
