Barcelona had been hopeful of signing Joao Pedro as a long-term replacement for Robert Lewandowski, with sporting director Deco meeting the player representatives in London. However, Chelsea have responded with a firm refusal, insisting the forward is not for sale at any price they consider realistic.
The final word may rest with Xabi Alonso, who is taking over as Chelsea manager and wants to assess each player individually before sanctioning departures. If Alonso includes Joao Pedro in his plans for the new season, the move to Barcelona will not happen regardless of how hard the player pushes.