Chelsea’s big spending is showing no signs of stopping following the announcement of Liam Delap’s move from Ipswich Town. The London club are reportedly closing in on two further additions. Jamie Gittens and João Pedro are both expected to form part of a new-look forward line for Enzo Maresca. The deals will see Chelsea’s splurge surpass £130 million this Summer. They haven’t even examined defensive options yet, which ranked high on the coach’s agenda ahead of the 2025-26 season. But what will Pedro add to the attack, and how could the Blues potentially line up at the start of next season? [banner][/banner]
Dynamic Striking Option
Chelsea aren’t short of players who can be spread across the offensive unit. However, Maresca has very few options when it comes to players who are capable of playing across all positions. Pedro’s arrival fixes that issue. The Brazilian is comfortable playing in wide areas, as well as in the ten and nine roles. The 23-year-old also fits the age profile that the Blues look to shop in, and there promises to be even further progression.
Joao Pedro is a Blue! 💙
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) July 2, 2025
The young Brazilian has quickly ascended to a high level in the English game, netting an impressive ten goals and registering six assists last term. His stats read even stronger when you consider that he attempted 1.7 shots per match and accumulated an estimated 10.26 in the Premier League.
Upgrading Available Options
This season is all about upgrading the options available to Maresca, especially with his first Champions League campaign coming up. Chelsea have already replaced Nicolas Jackson with Liam Delap, and the potential arrivals of Pedo and Gittens could lead to the departure of Christopher Nkunku.
JP 🤩 pic.twitter.com/f9xHVcNd5b
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) July 2, 2025
Importantly, Pedro also boasts a proven record in the Premier League, something that Nkunku failed to achieve despite impressing during his time in Germany. The forward has scored 30 goals across the last two seasons in the PL. No Blues star apart from Cole Palmer can claim to reach those numbers. Pedro’s record of goal involvement every 143 minutes makes him an upgrade across the front three—except for Palmer in the No. 10 role. [banner_third][/banner_third]
How Could the Blues Set Up?
João Pedro’s versatility in the forward areas will strengthen Chelsea. The Brazilian is as capable of playing as a number nine as he is in the ten position. That would allow Maresca to move Palmer into the wide-right role so he can cut in on his preferred left foot from the wing. Gittens could then easily slot into the left-wing position, with all stars offering a clear goal threat while also ensuring that Delap enjoys an excellent number of chances. Pedro’s arrival could also give Maresca the option to rest the young striker on occasions. Throughout last season, the Brazilian showed he can lead the line and bring teammates into play. This was made clear after winning over two aerial duels per game and managing 22.3 passes per 90. Given the ages of the new signings, it’s also likely that the London-based club will continue to progress throughout the entirety of the upcoming season, meaning they could position themselves as genuine title contenders in the coming season.