News Focus
- Barcelona sporting director Deco travelled to London to meet Joao Pedro’s agents
- Chelsea finished 10th in the Premier League and will not play in European competitions next season
- The Blues refuse to sell the 24-year-old forward even for a world-record fee
- Barcelona have set a maximum budget of €100 million to sign a new striker
- Robert Lewandowski will leave Barcelona at the end of the current campaign
Barcelona are hunting for a new centre forward this summer. The Spanish club must replace Robert Lewandowski, who will depart when the season ends.
The Catalan side have named two main targets. They want either Joao Pedro from Chelsea or Julian Alvarez. Deco recently flew to England with former player Bojan Krkic and agent Joao Amaral to discuss terms with Pedro’s representatives.
The Brazilian did not make his national team squad for the 2026 World Cup. This leaves him free to focus on a transfer. Barcelona believe they can sign the 24-year-old for around €70 million.
Pedro reportedly wants to join the Spotify Camp Nou. His interest has grown following Chelsea’s poor season. The West London side ended the campaign in 10th place and failed to win a place in any European tournament.
However, Chelsea have given a firm response to the Spanish club. The London outfit see Pedro as a key member of their team. They have told Barcelona that the striker is not for sale this summer. This remains true even if Barcelona offer a world-record transfer fee.
Barcelona will spend no more than €100 million on a new forward. This sum may not be enough to change Chelsea’s position. The situation could change only if Pedro formally asks to leave Stamford Bridge.