News Focus
- Barcelona’s Director of Football Deco has travelled to London to negotiate with Chelsea over forward Joao Pedro
- The Catalan club view the Brazilian striker as their main target to fill the number nine position this summer
- Chelsea are expected to demand over €100 million, while Barcelona hope to secure the deal for around €70 million
- Deco will meet with Pedro’s representative and Chelsea officials to discuss the potential transfer
- The forward’s agent will also attend the FA Cup final between Chelsea and Manchester City at Wembley
FC Barcelona’s sporting director Deco has travelled to the English capital to accelerate negotiations for Chelsea forward Joao Pedro. The Brazilian attacker has emerged as the Catalan giants’ primary objective to strengthen their attacking options ahead of next season.
The former Portugal midfielder arrived in London on Friday. He plans to meet Pedro’s agent and officials from the West London club. This face-to-face meeting represents a significant step in Barcelona’s pursuit of a new centre-forward.
Barcelona initially considered Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez for the number nine role. However, that deal appeared too complicated to complete. Consequently, the Spanish champions have turned their attention to Pedro, whom they believe offers excellent value and potential.
There remains a substantial gap between the two clubs’ valuations. Barcelona estimate the transfer could cost approximately €70 million. In contrast, Chelsea are reportedly unwilling to accept anything less than €100 million for the 24-year-old.
Pedro’s agent is also scheduled to attend Saturday’s FA Cup final at Wembley, where Chelsea face Manchester City. This fixture provides an additional opportunity for informal discussions between the relevant parties.
The Brazilian international represents a different profile compared to other targets such as Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez. At 24, Pedro is the youngest option under consideration, though he possesses less experience at the elite level. His playing style draws comparisons with current Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski, particularly regarding his movement and finishing ability.