Barcelona make €70m-rated Chelsea forward as the new No. 1 target; contact player’s camp

The new priority for Barcelona. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

At the same time, Los Rojiblancos would rather avoid strengthening a direct La Liga rival and would prefer to sell the striker abroad instead.

Pedro the more realistic option

Because of that, Joao Pedro has quickly emerged as the leading alternative. Deco is said to be fully convinced by the Brazilian attacker’s profile and believes he fits perfectly into the type of striker Barcelona need moving forward.

Barcelona’s current efforts are now focused on trying to secure Joao Pedro’s signature. The Brazilian striker would cost around €70 million, making him considerably cheaper than Alvarez.

Barça have already made contact with the player’s representatives and believe the operation is feasible.

Joao Pedro is interested in the project and could push for a move himself, especially if Chelsea fail to qualify for European competition next season. With only two Premier League matches remaining, their situation remains difficult.