Cadena SER reports that Barcelona’s sporting director, Deco, is considering signing Chelsea forward João Pedro during the upcoming summer transfer window.
Barça have identified Julián Álvarez as their primary target to bolster their attack should Robert Lewandowski leave at the end of the current season.
However, the Catalan giants’ pursuit of the Atlético Madrid star appears unlikely, given Los Rojiblancos’ record-breaking asking price exceeding €100 million for the Argentine international.
The report indicates that Deco is exploring other options, including João Pedro, who impressed at Brighton before his move to Chelsea last summer.
While the Brazilian forward’s form has dipped considerably, he remains one of the Blues’ key players this season, having scored 14 goals and provided 5 assists in 32 appearances across all competitions.
Deco believes Pedro possesses the same qualities that attracted Barcelona to sign Álvarez, and that the player himself might pressure his club to finalize the deal given Chelsea’s expected failure to qualify for the Champions League next season.
Chelsea paid €63 million for the 24-year-old, making a lower price a significant financial loss that the London club’s management is unlikely to accept.
It’s worth noting that Alexander Sørloth, one of the proposed replacements for Lewandowski, has already agreed to join AC Milan next season, leaving Barcelona’s options narrowed down to Vedat Muriqi, with Pedro now added to the list.
