Chelsea look set to miss out on qualification for next season’s Champions League after a dismal 3-1 defeat at the hands of relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
The Blues have now lost six consecutive matches in the Premier League, and were on the verge of failing to score throughout that run until Joao Pedro’s sublime overhead kick pulled one back in added time at Stamford Bridge.
That result leaves the west London side – who are without a permanent head coach – ninth in the top flight table, with only the top five set to qualify for the Champions League.
While the Blues’ hunt for a new manager goes on, it appears that the club have told one of Europe’s biggest sides that one of their most important players is not for sale.
As per TEAMtalk, Chelsea have informed Barcelona that they have no intention of allowing Pedro to leave SW6 this summer, amid interest from the Spanish champions.
The report claims that the La Liga giants had enquired about the availability of the Brazilian, who is one of few Chelsea players to have impressed this season.
Pedro is Chelsea’s top scorer so far this season (Photo: SPP/Alamy)
Pedro, 24, joined the Blues from Brighton and Hove Albion last summer and has now scored 23 goals in 50 games for the club, as well as providing nine assists.
It is claimed that Barcelona are on the hunt for attacking reinforcements amid uncertainty surrounding the future of 37-year-old striker Robert Lewandowski, who could leave the Nou Camp this summer.
Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez and Juventus star Dusan Vlahovic are also said to be of interest to the Catalan side, although sporting director Deco is a long-term admirer of Pedro.
The report suggests that the Blues rebuffed Barcelona’s approaches, though, signalling that the Brazil international is not for sale and is instead viewed as a player capable of playing a key role for the club for several years.
Pedro has more than seven years remaining on the long-term contract that he signed when joining Chelsea last summer.