Barcelona will not block Pedro from joining Chelsea

While it's not entirely certain that Chelsea are interested at all in acquiring Barcelona's Pedro -- the supposed Mourinho phone call was proven to be not true, for example -- but if we are, it sounds like there's nothing standing in our way.  Well, except the buyout clause, which is rumored to be €30m (£21-22m at the moment), but that's hardly a major obstacle.

"Pedro's situation is very clear - he has a contract and a buyout clause which, if paid, would see the player depart.  I don't want any of my players to leave. I've always highlighted Pedro's worth as a player and as a person."

-Luis Enrique; source: London 24

Like most managers would in this situation, the Barcelona boss stopped short of making guarantees that he could not keep just to convince his player to stay however.

"I have known Pedro for some time and I don't sell promises. I cannot guarantee something that I cannot deliver."

-Luis Enrique; source: ESPN

The decision thus rests with Pedro.

"Pedro is an important player and I would love for him to stay just as I am delighted that [Marc] Bartra is. It's going to be a personal decision and I will respect it."

-Luis Enrique; source: London 24

The player's aims are clear.

"It's true I have received important offers but don't want to say more out of respect for my club. My situation is complicated because I want to play a lot of minutes but that is becoming very difficult at Barcelona."

-Pedro; source: Get West London

Shades of some of our own highest profile departures over the last couple years.  Just like Mata, Schurrle, De Bruyne, and Petr Cech even, Pedro's looking for first-team minutes.  Just like Chelsea, Barcelona will not stand in the player's way if he wants to leave, but will ensure that they're properly compensated.

That said, if Pedro's looking for lots of guaranteed minutes, he will not find those at Chelsea either.  While Willian or Oscar might be easier to displace, in theory, than any of Messi, Neymar, or Suarez, Pedro would not come in as a guaranteed first-choice player.  He would have to fight for his spot here as well.  Would that be the move he's truly looking for?

And as far as Chelsea's interest, would signing Pedro right now make sense with a glut of players already behind our first-choice attacking band?  Despite rumors, it doesn't sound like we're planning on Juan Cuadrado leaving.  Victor Moses is apparently staying, too.  Salah might be shipped out, but he's here for preseason at least.  And ideally we'd be able to give Bertrand Traore some meaningful minutes, too.  Adding Pedro to that mix might provide an upgrade, but are we willing to spend that much on a minor upgrade?  Sure, we've done just that with the likes of Cuadrado and Schurrle, but maybe we've finally learned our lesson?

We shall have to wait and see, I suppose.