Barcelona sporting director Deco travelled to London for talks over Chelsea striker João Pedro as the club steps up its search for Robert Lewandowski’s successor
FC Barcelona have stepped up their pursuit of João Pedro after sporting director Deco travelled to London for talks with the Chelsea forward’s representatives.
The Catalans are actively searching for a new long-term no.9 following the departure of Robert Lewandowski, after a successful four-year spell in which he scored 120 goals in 193 matches for the Blaugrana.
While Ferran Torres has rotated commendably with the Pole – with 40 goals in his last two seasons – Barcelona are keen to bring in a marquee striker capable of leading the attack to new heights.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Deco travelled to London along with Barça’s football co-ordinator Bojan Krkić and chief scout João Amaral to continue discussions over João Pedro, with the Brazilian now one of the club’s top attacking targets.
Julián Álvarez remains Barcelona’s dream target
Barcelona’s preferred option is still Julián Álvarez, although prising the striker away from Atlético Madrid looks increasingly unrealistic given the club’s difficult economic situation.
Atlético will likely want more than €120 million for the Argentine, an amount Barcelona simply cannot afford. Reports in Spain suggest the growing interest in João Pedro is partly strategic from Barça’s side, hoping that negotiations with the Brazilian could force Álvarez’s hand and push for a move himself, leading Atlético into more flexible talks over payment terms.
João Pedro, meanwhile, has had an impressive opening campaign with Chelsea after arriving from Brighton last summer. The 24-year-old has scored 15 goals and made eight assists in the Premier League, as well as having scored three more in the Champions League.
Despite Chelsea having a disappointing season, the Brazilian striker has been among their brighter sparks with his ability to hold the ball, bring others into play and high technical level in and around the penalty area.
Chelsea’s public stance is that the Brazilian is not for sale. The Blues bought Pedro for €70m just last summer, on a contract that runs until 2033.
However, Chelsea’s difficult season could complicate matters. Their failure to qualify for Europe could put pressure on the club’s finances and could also encourage top players to consider their futures.
Barcelona believe João Pedro represents a more realistic financial opportunity than Álvarez while still offering elite-level potential. Deco is understood to be a huge admirer of the forward and has now made multiple trips to England to monitor the situation personally.
