Joao Pedro has received a call from Barcelona sporting director Deco with a view from the Spanish club to sign the Chelsea striker, according to insider Simon Phillips.
Pedro has been one of the standout signings in the Premier League this term after swapping Brighton for Chelsea in the summer. The Brazilian striker has 14 goals and eight assists to his name in league football.
He's absolutely exploded into life in 2026, with eight of those goals and five assists coming since the turn of the year - including a hat-trick and an assist in the 4-1 victory over Aston Villa on March 4.
Though Pedro has only been with Chelsea since the summer, he has the eyes of another huge club, Barcelona, on him.
Phillips reports the club's sporting director, Deco, has called Pedro's representatives to gauge the possibility of a summer transfer, with Barca on the hunt for a new centre-forward.
Their favourite striker at this point is Julian Alvarez, but with a huge price tag and other big clubs in the mix for him, cash-strapped Barcelona might find it a struggle to sign the striker, and Pedro is therefore being looked at as an alternative.
Pedro is going nowhere
Amid Barcelona's interest in the Brazilian striker, it's said Chelsea are extremely unlikely to let their star walk out the door.
Not only has Pedro established himself as one of the best forwards in the Premier League this season, and currently perhaps the most in-form player in the English top flight, but he has seven years remaining on his deal so Chelsea are in a very strong position.
Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior has recently made it fairly evident that he would not want to part with Pedro any time soon.
He said: “I think Joao’s in that [world-class] category now. Consistently, during the two months that I’ve been here, he’s shown that level. He’s a world-class striker.
“I wouldn’t swap Joao for anyone in this moment to be honest, because he’s showing all of the things and all the attributes I want to see in my No.9.”
There is also a desire from Chelsea to see the back of Nicolas Jackson permanently, while it seems all parties are in agreement that it would be best for Liam Delap to depart, too.
While Emmanuel Emegha will come through the door in the summer and there's reported interest in Newcastle striker Nick Woltemade, there is little doubt that Pedro will remain one of the standout options in the Chelsea forward line next season.
