Transfer Coup: Chelsea Reach Agreement With Barca Over Pedro

Pedro Rodriguez is in London ahead of a possible move to Premier League champions Chelsea.

The 28-year-old has long been linked with Manchester United, with the side’s executive vice-president Ed Woodward traveling to Barcelona on Monday to try and put paid to what had become an overdue negotiation with the Spanish champions.

Pedro is flying to London to finalise terms on a move to the west London outfit and also have a medical.

The Blues are looking to beef up their squad following a slow start to the new season which has seen them earn just one point from their first two matches.

They have already signed goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, striker Radamel Falcao and, most recently, full-back Baba Rahman.

They are also interested in England international John Stones from Everton, but have reportedly had three offers turned down by the Merseyside club.

Man United manager Louis van Gaal is understood to have requested his employers end their interest in Pedro, while it appeared they were finding it difficult to meet Barcelona’s €30m (£21m) asking price for the forward.


The Old Trafford side are reported to have asked to pay the player’s buy-out clause in two installments, which the Spanish champions rejected.

Chelsea play West Brom on Sunday looking to bounce back from their poor start to the 2015-16 campaign, which culminated with a 3-0 defeat at Manchester City – the other team to have shown interest in Pedro – over the weekend.

A product of Barca’s La Masia academy, Pedro has scored 39 goals in 326 appearances since his debut in 2008.

He made 50 appearances last season and won his third Champions League winner’s medal with the Baulgranas same season. He was part of Spain’s squad which won the World Cup (2010) and the European Championship (2008 and 2012).

He has made three appearances for the coach Luis Enrique side this season and came off the bench to score the match-winner in last week’s Uefa Super Cup victory over Sevilla.