Joao Pedro continues to be linked with a move to Barcelona this summer, with Deco, the La Liga club’s sporting director, now commenting on their interest in the Chelsea forward
Barcelona sporting director Deco has refused to rule out the La Liga champions making an offer to Chelsea for Joao Pedro in the upcoming summer transfer window.
The Blues forward, who signed from Brighton last summer for a £60million package (£55m plus add-ons), has been a revelation in his debut season at Stamford Bridge. Joao Pedro has scored 20 goals in all competitions this term – and was unsurprisingly handed the club’s Player of the Season award prior to the win over Tottenham on Tuesday evening.
It comes as no shock, then, that the Brazil international, who was surprisingly left out of Carlo Ancelotti’s World Cup squad for this summer’s tournament in the United States, is attracting interest from Europe’s biggest clubs. Barcelona, sources say, are indeed interested in Joao Pedro in the summer transfer window.
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Deco has refused to rule out making a move for the Chelsea attacker in the coming months. Speaking to Mundo Deportivo, Deco was asked about the club’s transfer plans and Robert Lewandowski, who will leave Blaugrana this summer.
“Today is a somewhat sad day because Robert’s departure is now official,” said Deco. “It’s almost impossible to replace Robert. He’s been the best striker of recent years, and everything he’s done at Barca in these years is very difficult to replicate, but that is football.”
When pressed on Barca’s interest in Joao Pedro and Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez, Deco said: “It’s not about profile. We’re not ruling anyone out, nor are we signing anyone.
“These are internal matters. What we have to guarantee is that we’ll work as we do every year. We’ve lost a very important player like Robert, and of course we’re going to try to strengthen the team.”
However, Chelsea consider Joao Pedro not for sale, and club sources are insistent they do not need to sell their key players – even if they do miss out on qualifying for the Champions League. Xabi Alonso will begin his role as manager at Stamford Bridge on July 1 and the Spaniard, who has signed a four-year contract in west London, will have more power than his predecessors when it comes to the club’s transfer business.
Alonso will surely be desperate to keep hold of Joao Pedro, Chelsea’s 20-goal striker, for his debut season back in the Premier League.
