According to reports from The Daily Mail, Manchester United chief executive Ed Woodward arrived in Catalonia yesterday evening to conclude a deal for Barcelona winger Pedro, amid fears Chelsea could hijack the £22million transfer.
The three-time Champions League winner, five-time La Liga winner, 2010 World Cup and 2012 European Championship winner is almost certain to leave the Nou Camp this summer after slumping behind Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar in the pecking order last season.
Manchester United are widely viewed as the front-runners in the race to sign the Spain international. Some reports claim he’s already made a ‘verbal agreement‘ to join the Red Devils, whilst Louis van Gaal was suspiciously coy last week when quizzed on his interest in the 27 year-old, whose contract includes a £22million release clause.
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But after the poor start to their Premier League title defence, there are concerns that Chelsea could look to hijack United’s deal for Pedro at the final stages.
The Daily Mail claim negotiations are already being slowed down by rumoured interest from west London, The Telegraph allege Chelsea will launch a bid if Barca’s discussions with United struggle to progress and Mirror Football report that owner Roman Abramovich will make more funds available for Jose Mourinho to sign top class talent – a category Pedro certainly falls into.
As a consequence, Ed Woodward touched down in Barcelona yesterday evening in an effort to wrap up United’s pursuit of the 5 foot 6 attacker.
He watched the Catalans lose the Spanish Super Cup to Athletic Bilbao in a 4-1 doube legger and reportedly ran the rule over the Basque outfit’s star defender Aymeric Laporte – a long-term target of United’s whose contract includes a £36.5million release clause.