If Option A falls through for Barcelona, everything suggests the club will move to sign a Chelsea star — a recent arrival, yet one enjoying an excellent season with the Blues.
FC Barcelona is very close to winning LaLiga 25/26 and, since it is no longer competing in the UEFA Champions League, much of its focus is on planning for next season. The club’s sporting department is already working intensely to avoid any transfer market surprises.
Neither Robert Lewandowski nor Ferran Torres has performed as expected, so the squad is analyzing several profiles to fill the center-forward position. The coaching staff wants a reliable goal scorer. The footballer they like most is Julian Alvarez, although Barca has a plan B in place if the Spider stays at Atletico Madrid or signs for another club.
According to the latest reports, the Blaugrana could work on signing Joao Pedro, a Chelsea striker in the Premier League, as a replacement if it does not finalize the transfer of Julian Alvarez. Barcelona sees this alternative as increasingly viable given the financial constraints.
According to Cadena SER from Spain, the Cules hold Joao Pedro in high regard, to the point that they see him as a clear alternative to Julian Alvarez, a footballer Barca has followed for a long time, as they believe his profile could boost the team. The Catalan board has been monitoring both players for months.
According to the report, the Brazilian striker, 24, is very well liked by the blue-and-crimson squad, although he is not the only attacker they have on file to reinforce the No. 9 position. Sporting director Deco is leading the search personally.
Another point in Joao Pedro’s favor is that he is cheaper than the Spider, since his value is €75 million, compared to Alvarez’s €90 million. As if that were not enough, Atletico Madrid has made clear on several occasions that it has no intention of letting the Argentine striker go.
Joao Pedro is in his first season at Chelsea; however, things have turned out much better than many expected, as he has more than 20 goal contributions in the campaign that is about to end. His adaptation to English football has been surprisingly smooth and quick.
According to Transfermarkt, the Brazilian striker has played 46 matches, scored 19 goals, and provided nine assists in the 25/26 season. Those numbers have convinced Barca that he could be a smart long-term investment.
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