With the addition of Joao Pedro, Chelsea's attack is further strengthened.

Chelsea have never ceased to be controversial during transfer windows under new owners.

Chelsea now have a lot of strikers.

However, the signing of Joao Pedro – the 18th striker brought in in just over three years – has once again left fans wondering: what exactly is Chelsea building?

£60 million is no small sum, especially for a player who has never scored more than 11 Premier League goals in a single season. However, Joao Pedro is not an isolated case. He is the latest link in Chelsea's chaotic transfer machine – where the presence of young players, long-term contracts, and high transfer fees have almost become an unchangeable formula.

A "Chelsea-style" contract.

Joao Pedro, 23, arrived from Brighton after scoring 30 goals in 70 games since 2023. He was Chelsea's record signing when he arrived from Watford for nearly £30 million. In just two years, that amount doubled – demonstrating the player's significant development, but also reflecting Chelsea's risky transfer strategy.

It's no surprise that Pedro signed an eight-year contract – a term that has become a hallmark of Chelsea in the post-Roman Abramovich era. However, since the Premier League closed the financial loophole allowing transfer fees to be depreciated based on contract duration, this strategy has become less effective. Chelsea can no longer "diversify" risk as they once could.

Chelsea currently boasts at least eight attacking players capable of starting: Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson, Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto, Noni Madueke, Marc Guiu, Tyrique George, and Liam Delap. This is in addition to Estevao Willian – the Brazilian prodigy set to arrive after the Club World Cup – and Jamie Gittens, the 20-year-old winger Chelsea agreed to buy from Dortmund for £55 million.

Amidst this personnel turmoil, what role does Joao Pedro play? According to informed sources, he is being groomed for the number 9 or number 10 position – replacing Nkunku, who is likely to leave Stamford Bridge.

Joao Pedro is set to join Chelsea.

Pedro possesses the ability to drop deep, link up play, retain possession, and support other attacking players—qualities that Nicolas Jackson, a traditional center forward, still lacks. At the same time, Pedro isn't a pure winger, so he offers a central attacking option—something Chelsea sometimes lacks against opponents who play defensively.

Coach Edu Rubio – who previously worked at West Ham, Palace, and Wolves – highly rated Pedro: “He has the qualities of a playmaker, good physical fitness, intelligent off-ball play, and fits the philosophy of coach Enzo Maresca. Although he hasn't scored many goals yet, Pedro has the potential to become a difference-maker if put in the right position.”

Strategy or patchwork?

In theory, Chelsea's signings are not only driven by professional needs but also by a business strategy: acquiring young players with high resale value, low salaries, and long contracts to avoid losing them for free. However, the reality on the pitch is raising serious questions about this plan.

Chelsea have spent £1.32 billion over seven transfer windows, with £560 million of that going to forwards. Including the upcoming Gittens deal, that figure will exceed £1.5 billion. However, the results haven't been commensurate: many new signings like Madueke, Mudryk, Jackson, and Nkunku have had inconsistent performances and haven't lived up to expectations.

Under manager Maresca, the team is gradually taking shape, but the constant personnel changes remain a cause for concern. While Cole Palmer is untouchable, players like Jackson, Madueke, and even Guiu and George don't have secure positions. Players like Joao Felix, Sterling, and Broja – once highly anticipated – are now being sold or moved out of the plans.

Chelsea are overhauling their squad.

Undeniably, Chelsea is undergoing a transformation to adapt to a new philosophy, especially with their return to the Champions League. However, having too many attacking players at once can lead to wastefulness, dressing room chaos, and a loss of team cohesion.

Chelsea has found several ways to overcome the financial constraints of the Premier League. Most recently, they sold their women's team to parent company BlueCo for nearly £200 million – bringing their entire football ecosystem under one financial umbrella and creating room for legitimate spending. In addition, participation in the Champions League and Club World Cup this season has also generated significant revenue.

However, these are only short-term solutions. If on-field performance remains inconsistent and player values ​​don't increase, Chelsea's "buy low, sell high" strategy will become a double-edged sword. This is especially true given that other clubs are adopting this model, and the youth player market is experiencing inflated prices and fierce competition.

Joao Pedro wasn't an unreasonable signing. He has Premier League experience, the ideal age, and skills that fit Maresca's system. But in the context of the current Chelsea squad, he's just one of many pieces vying for a still-incomplete picture.

Chelsea needs more than just a smart transfer plan – they need stability, long-term vision, and a clear framework. Otherwise, no matter how many more Pedros they bring in, the attacking problem at Stamford Bridge will remain a tangled mess.

Source: https://znews.vn/them-joao-pedro-chelsea-lai-chat-dong-hang-cong-post1565649.html