Chelsea transfer news: Barcelona plot summer swoop for Blues forward as Julian Alvarez plan B

Just a step away from sealing yet another La Liga title, Barcelona are continuing to work behind the scenes on their targets for the upcoming transfer window. The main attacking name on the Catalan club's wishlist is, as is widely known, Atletico Madrid's Argentinian Julian Alvarez.

The Catalans, however, are working on alternatives should they fail to prise the Argentinian star away from their Madrid rivals, with the club fully aware that Atleti will play hardball over their main man.

According to the Que t'hi jugues programme on Spain's Cadena SER, Chelsea and Brazil international Joao Pedro is one of the names being assessed by Barcelona's technical staff. The 24-year-old Brazilian has caught the eye thanks to his dynamic and versatile style of play, traits that would prove crucial in his adaptation to Hansi Flick's system.

Barcelone eyeing Joao Pedro as plan B to Julian Alvarez

The catch is that prising the Brazilian away from West London is no simple task either. The Blues forward is currently valued at £64m (€75m), according to Transfermarkt. The forward is also tied to a contract at Chelsea until 2033. Barcelona, however, would lean on a specific trump card.

The Spaniards are aware that Chelsea are going through a difficult patch and need to bring in funds to avoid running into Financial Fair Play trouble. In that scenario, Joao Pedro could indeed be on the move. The catch is that Barcelona themselves have also been battling a string of financial issues over recent seasons.

That said, the club understand that the Blues would not part with their player easily. Chelsea forked out £54m (€63.7m) to land Joao Pedro from Brighton & Hove Albion less than a year ago. Furthermore, the Brazilian's start to life in West London has been outstanding, with 19 goals and four assists this season.

The signing of a new striker is one of the most pressing matters that director of football Deco, the man at the helm of Barcelona's transfer business, needs to resolve in the upcoming window. The chief is on the hunt for a top-tier number nine to ensure the team's attacking firepower is maintained. With Robert Lewandowski's likely departure, the need becomes all the more pressing.

Barcelona weighing up other striker options on the market

Beyond Joao Pedro, the club also have other names in mind. Inter Milan's Argentinian forward Lautaro Martinez has also been linked to Barcelona. The player has had his name tied to the club in recent years and remains one of the favourites, even if he is a slightly less versatile striker than Alvarez and Joao Pedro. At 28, Martinez also boasts more mileage and experience in the European game, a quality that appeals to part of the Catalan hierarchy.

Martinez has a market value pegged at £72m (€85m) and is tied to a contract at Inter until 2029. The forward has been hampered by physical issues this season, but boasts statistics similar to those of Joao Pedro, with 20 goals and four assists across the campaign. As with the other names, signing him would require no shortage of engineering on the part of Deco and his team.