Chelsea striker João Pedro appears to be refusing to switch off this summer, despite being left out of Brazil’s World Cup squad and seeing transfer speculation cool significantly over the last few days.
The 24-year-old had spent much of the past month at the centre of reports linking him with Barcelona. However, those stories now look considerably less likely to lead anywhere, largely because of Chelsea’s valuation.
According to ESPN Brazil, the Blues have made it clear they will not entertain offers below €120m (£101m) for the forward – a figure that effectively places him beyond Barcelona’s current reach.
That’s a shift from earlier reports suggesting negotiations could potentially begin around the €100m (£84.3m) mark. So João Pedro looks set to remain at Stamford Bridge next season.
Chelsea stance leaves little room for Barcelona
The Brazilian arrived only last summer and quickly established himself as one of the club’s most productive attacking players.
The club have spent years searching for stability in the striker position. João Pedro finally provided some of that. He finished the season with 20 goals and six assists in 53 appearances.
Selling him after one season would immediately create another problem to solve.
That is why Barcelona’s interest has always depended on Chelsea softening their position. Instead, the opposite appears to have happened.
The latest figure reported in Brazil suggests Chelsea are becoming even more determined to keep hold of him.
World Cup hope still alive
While his club future looks straightforward, João Pedro has another priority.
The striker was disappointed not to make Carlo Ancelotti’s final World Cup squad and had expected to be included.
Rather than immediately heading off on holiday, though, he has decided to stay ready.
According to ESPN, João Pedro is continuing to train twice a day from home, including physiotherapy sessions, while he waits to see whether an opportunity emerges before FIFA’s final squad deadline on June 12.
The reason is quite simple. With Neymar currently dealing with a calf injury, João Pedro believes there remains a realistic chance of a late call-up should Brazil need to make a change in attacking areas.
The report states that he has postponed holiday plans entirely while that possibility remains open.
Initially, the expectation had been that he would stay in London because he believed a World Cup place was coming. Now, he is staying for a different reason – just in case one still arrives.
What happens next
Unless something dramatic changes before June 12, João Pedro is expected to spend part of his summer with family in Rio de Janeiro.
Until then, however, he appears unwilling to fully disconnect. That mindset probably says a lot about why Chelsea value him so highly.
While Barcelona’s pursuit may be fading, João Pedro is still preparing as if one of the biggest opportunities of his career could arrive at any moment.
And for now, Chelsea’s asking price looks likely to ensure that opportunity comes with Brazil rather than a transfer elsewhere.