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- 27 minutes ago
Enzo Maresca issues Erling Haaland transfer message
Cameron Smith
- Updated: 28 Oct 2025 15:07 GMT
- 4 min read
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Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has insisted that he isn’t worried by Joao Pedro’s ongoing goalscoring drought as he is aware the Brazilian will not be able to match the prowess of Manchester City striker Erling Haaland.
Pedro, 24, notched five goals in his first six competitive games for Chelsea, including three in just three games at the Club World Cup, however he is now without a goal since late August.
Current ETV
João Pedro
F, M, AM (C)
Chelsea
João Pedro
F, M, AM (C)
Chelsea
ETV Range
€55.2M - €67.5M
The former Brighton & Hove Albion forward hasn’t found the back of the net in his last eight Chelsea appearances, while he has also only provided one assist during that time too.
However, Maresca believes a persistent injury issue has played a role in Pedro’s downturn in form over the past few weeks, and he has warned Chelsea fans that the club’s €63.7 million summer signing is not the answer to their No.9 woes like a player such as Haaland would be.
Enzo Maresca on Joao Pedro
“For sure the physical part is important. When you are not 100%, it's difficult to compete, especially in this league. But I think Joao is not a problem at all,” Maresca told reporters ahead of Chelsea’s Carabao Cup clash versus Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday evening.
“He's going to score goals with us. He's going to give us assists, knowing that Joao Pedro is not a No.9 that is going to score 20 goals each year.
“It's not Joao, he's a fantastic player, he's going to score goals for us, he's going to give us assists. But it's a different kind of nine, like this kind of nine that they score 20-25 goals each year like [Robert] Lewandowski, [Kylian] Mbappe or Haaland. This is a different kind of No.9.”
Chelsea haven’t had a reliable centre forward since the departure of Diego Costa back to Atletico Madrid in January 2018, although many fans thought Pedro may be able to fill that void following his sublime start at the club.
However, Maresca has admitted that such expectations are misplaced, with Chelsea not yet boasting a world class striker despite their immense spending under current owners Clearlake Capital and Todd Boehly.
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