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Chelsea’s acquisition of Joao Pedro will result in the Brazilian becoming Watford’s most lucrative sale due to a hidden sell-on clause that will push his fee beyond that of their previous record for Richarlison.
In 2023, Watford transferred Joao Pedro to Brighton. Although the details were initially undisclosed, it has since been revealed that the deal was valued at £30 million, potentially increasing to £35 million.
Now, Chelsea is purchasing the 23-year-old for £55 million, possibly rising to £60 million, and Watford will receive 20 percent of the profit Brighton earns, amounting to £5 million for the Championship club.
Meanwhile, Joao Pedro trained with his new Chelsea team-mates on Wednesday morning in Miami.
Joao Pedro completed his move to Chelsea on Wednesday and has joined the Blues in Miami
The Brazilian will be available to take on Palmeiras in Friday’s Club World Cup quarter-final
Joao Pedro is now the Hornets’ record sale due to a sell-on clause in their deal with Brighton
DJORDJE A WANTED MAN
Premier League newboys Sunderland are interested in Djordje Petrovic, though they are only one of a number of clubs across Europe who like the Chelsea goalkeeper, 25.
Bournemouth are another side searching for a goalie and have a good relationship with the Blues, from whom they loaned Kepa Arrizabalaga last season.
Kepa completed his £5m switch across the capital to Arsenal this week, making it six times in seven seasons that the Gunners have signed a player from the Blues – following David Luiz, Willian, Jorginho, Kai Havertz and Raheem Sterling.
COLWILL: CHELSEA IS FOR WINNERS ONLY
Confidential spoke with Levi Colwill a few days ago and asked him on the impending break he and his team-mates will receive from Chelsea once they finish up at the Club World Cup.
Enzo Maresca’s players are due to get at least three weeks of downtime ahead of the next Premier League season. Their first match is at home to Crystal Palace on August 17, with the final of the Club World Cup on July 13, should they get there.
Colwill said: ‘Of course, playing for such a long time, it takes a lot out of you. But we’re not really thinking about holiday because we want to try and win this tournament.
‘When it does come around, of course we are going to use as much time as we can to spend with our friends and family and hopefully try to reset as quick as possible for the next season.
‘I probably won’t do anything for a week, maybe two weeks, I’ll see how I’m feeling. After that, you’ve got to start getting ready for pre-season. It comes around quick. You don’t want to be lacking when it comes to that because the gaffer will get on to you.’
Levi Colwill has positioned himself as a leader in the Chelsea squad despite a mixed season
The England centre back demands that every new player understands the club is for winners
Colwill was also extremely critical of himself. Asked what he would like to work on in his game, he said: ‘We could be here for ages, to be honest. I know I am nowhere near where I would like to be. There are so many areas of my game that aren’t good enough.
‘I think I’ve seen that this season. Defending one-v-one has been tough but I think I’ve proved I’m getting a bit better and just being on the ball. I’m good at times when I’m trying to make passes and there are other times where I’ve been a bit lazy and you can tell. There are so many things I need to improve.’
I get the sense from speaking with him that Colwill is a leader, as he also said: ‘We’re just trying to reinforce to the young boys, to the boys coming in, that this club is for winners only. That’s what we all need to do and strive towards. That’s what we want to do together.’
Can they win the Club World Cup? He replied: ‘Yeah, why not?’
DILLO DING DILLO GONE
Farewell to Andy Dillon of The Sun, their Chelsea correspondent who is leaving his newspaper after 26 years once this Club World Cup finishes in the United States.
If you ever see an interesting line from a Chelsea press conference, the chances are ‘Dillo’ got it out of the manager.
This tournament in the USA is his swansong in the post and we’ll miss his forever-friendly presence at Cobham. He’s helped the younger reporters more than he knows.
IT’LL BE ALL WHITE ON THE NIGHT
FIFA’s media app – which has been a handy tool for checking information at the Club World Cup – tells us what shirt colours each side are set to wear in their upcoming game.
Palmeiras and their Chelsea-bound superstar Estevao Willian will be wearing green on Friday
For this Friday in Philadelphia, it states Chelsea will be wearing their white away shirts with green shorts, and Palmeiras will wear their green home shirts with white shorts.
Clubs can push back if they believe they ought to be allowed to wear their usual colours.
LIVID LEVI FREE TO PLAY, PER FIFA INSIDERS
Back to Colwill. He was caught on camera having an X-rated rant at referee Slavko Vincic during Chelsea’s win over Benfica when he awarded the Portuguese side their controversial penalty, scored by Angel Di Maria.
’F***ing s***, you’re f***ing s***, you’re s*** referee… disgrace,’ Colwill said according to a lip reader while wagging his finger in the official’s face.
In his defence, it was a silly handball called by Vincic. FIFA officials are surprised he did not book Colwill at the time, and Confidential has been told it is highly unlikely the Club World Cup’s disciplinary team will take further action, leaving him free to face Palmeiras on Friday.
RAHEEM WAITING FOR WORD FROM CHELSEA
Raheem Sterling is now officially back in the arms of Chelsea with his loan at Arsenal having ended, but he has yet to hear on what is next for him with the Club World Cup still ongoing.
Sterling is one of those available for sale this summer. The winger is still only 30 would not mind staying in the Premier League.
Chelsea have held talks with West Ham over Mohammed Kudus and did bring up the possibility of sending players in the opposite direction. However, the Hammers have indicated they are not interested in that idea and would prefer purely a cash sale.
Raheem Sterling is back at Chelsea after his Arsenal loan but is still in the dark over his future
Chelsea want West Ham forward Mohammed Kudus, but the Hammers don’t want a swap deal
SO, ANYONE ELSE EXCITED FOR NEXT SUMMER’S WORLD CUP?
Confidential experienced deja vu on Monday as we flew from Charlotte to Philadelphia in a further sign of what supporters could encounter when the United States hosts the World Cup next summer.
Just like in Chelsea versus Benfica, when that Club World Cup game was suspended for two hours due to lightning striking nearby, we found ourselves twiddling thumbs with scarce updates as we sat on our plane that was supposed to be flying into Philly.
Storms surrounding Pennsylvania’s biggest city meant we were forced to sit on our flight for an extra five hours.
Once we finally received clearance to land in Philadelphia, we were told lightning meant the luggage could not be offloaded from the plane as another two-hour wait ensued. ‘Welcome soccer fans!’ read one sign in the arrivals hall.
ESTEVAO ESCAPES BRITISH PRESS PACK
With Chelsea facing Palmeiras, the Brazilian club were inundated with requests for Estevao Willian to speak to the British press pack who are here in Philadelphia to cover the club he is joining.
While we were initially optimistic, unfortunately we have been told the 18-year-old wonderkid is not going to be put up, with him still trying to get to grips with the English language ahead of moving to London.
