Don Hutchison names new Chelsea striker as one of the 5 best strikers Blues could have acquired this summer

The former Scotland international believes that Joao Pedro is in the same category as goal-machines Osimhen, Gyokeres, Vlahovic and Ekitike.

Football favourite Don Hutchison has praised Chelsea’s £50 million capture of Brighton forward Joao Pedro after he became the latest player to swap the seaside club for Stamford Bridge.

The Brazilian international, 23, was subject of interest from a number of clubs, including Newcastle, and was made available for transfer after a training ground bust-up with teammate Jan Paul van Hecke that saw the former Watford man sit out Brighton’s final two games of the Premier League season.

What are Chelsea getting by signing the Brazilian star?

Brighton’s loss looks like being Chelsea’s gain, with Hutchison singing the praises of the man who registered ten goals and six assists in 27 games for the Seagulls last season, claiming that he is as good a striker as the top-level forwards that are reportedly on the market this summer.

“I think Joao Pedro is the best move they’ve made so far. I think Pedro, alongside Hugo Ekitike, are the best players who have almost gone under the radar this summer.

“We all know about Victor Osimhen, Viktor Gyokeres and Dusan Vlahovic, but Pedro is one of the guys I’d have been looking at, along with Ekitike, if I was a Premier League side. Credit to Chelsea for getting one of them,” Hutchison said during a recent interview.

Chelsea have signed two strikers this summer

Pedro isn’t the only striker to have joined Chelsea this summer with the club signing Liam Delap from Ipswich Town for £30 million after the Tractor Boys were relegated from the Premier League. The highly-rated England youth international joins Pedro and Nicolas Jackson as Chelsea’s principle strikers for the forthcoming season, and Hutch couldn’t resist aiming a dig at Senegalese striker Jackson, who for the first time in his Chelsea career will have competition to lead the line for Enzo Maresca’s team.

“That leaves a dilemma now for Nicolas Jackson, who acts like he wants to fight the world, because with Delap and Joao Pedro, there are three players for one No. 9 spot,” Hutchison concluded.

Chelsea fans will be hoping that Hutchison’s appraisal rings true when the Premier League season kicks off in August.

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