Barcelona eye João Pedro at Chelsea as Alvarez alternative
Álvarez wants to leave, but Atlético have no intention of letting him go, especially not to a fellow LaLiga rival. The stand-off has hardened into a genuine standoff, prompting increasingly pointed public comments from all sides involved.
With that operation still unresolved, Barcelona continue to weigh up alternatives, and Chelsea forward João Pedro, 24, remains a name that has been discussed at the club for months.
Before the transfer window officially opened, he was considered the leading candidate should the move for Álvarez fall through. Barcelona sporting director Deco even travelled to London to meet with the player’s camp, where it was confirmed the Brazilian would be open to trading London for Barcelona.
The obstacle has always been price, with Chelsea understood to be demanding a fee in excess of €100m, a considerable outlay for Barcelona’s finances. Now, amid renewed speculation linking João Pedro with a move to Camp Nou, Fabrizio Romano has reported that Chelsea consider the forward untouchable and will not sell him under any circumstances this summer.
João Pedro is viewed as a key piece of the new project being built by head coach Xabi Alonso at Stamford Bridge, and no offer, however substantial, is expected to be accepted by the London club’s board.
His outstanding first season in England, in which he established himself as one of Chelsea’s most reliable performers, has only strengthened the club’s resolve to keep hold of him regardless of Barcelona’s continued interest.
For now, Barcelona’s priority remains closing a deal for Álvarez, but should that pursuit ultimately fail, the club already knows that prising João Pedro away from Chelsea would prove at least as difficult as landing the Atletico Madrid striker.
Barcelona’s summer attacking plans, in other words, hinge on two separate negotiations that both currently appear deadlocked, leaving the club with limited room for manoeuvre unless one of the two situations shifts significantly in the coming weeks as the transfer window edges towards its final stages.
