Barcelona’s plans to strengthen their attack ahead of the new season are already facing serious complications, with one of their preferred targets now looking increasingly out of reach.
Fresh updates from Fabrizio Romano have shed light on the situation, confirming strong interest from the Catalan club in Joao Pedro, but also making it clear that a deal will not be easy.
The journalist affirms that the Brazilian forward has been admired internally for quite some time, especially by sporting director Deco, who tracked him during his Brighton days.
Now, with Barcelona actively searching for attacking reinforcements, his name has returned to the shortlist.
A plan B
Barcelona’s priority this summer is to add quality and depth in the final third.
The ideal scenario remains a move for Julian Alvarez, but that operation is becoming increasingly difficult.
Atletico Madrid are expected to demand a significant fee, and given Barcelona’s financial limits, the deal is far from straightforward.
Joao Pedro is appreciated by Barcelona. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
This is where Joao Pedro comes into the picture. Within Barcelona, he is seen as a strong fit for the system and a forward capable of adapting to different roles across the attack.
However, the biggest obstacle is Chelsea’s position. As Romano explained while addressing the situation, Barcelona’s admiration alone is not enough to make a deal happen.
He stressed that Joao Pedro is highly valued at Chelsea and considered a key part of their project.
Simply put, Chelsea are not open to negotiations at this stage and view the player as untouchable this summer.
Losing him, especially during a challenging period for the club, is simply not part of their plans and that leaves Barcelona in a difficult position.
While they continue to explore options, they are fully aware that both Joao Pedro and Alvarez come with similar complications – high costs and clubs unwilling to sell.
