Barcelona maintain a firm interest in Chelsea striker Joao Pedro, according to Spanish radio station Cadena SER. The appreciation has been confirmed by Bojan Krkic, the former Barcelona forward who now works as a football coordinator for the club. Krkic revealed he spoke with the Brazilian and his representative during Pedro's time at Brighton, stating he "liked him a lot" and sees him as a "complete forward" ideal for Barcelona's style under Hansi Flick.
Separately, Chelsea's interest in Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon has been confirmed by The Athletic. The England international is expected to leave St. James' Park this summer amid strong interest, with Bayern Munich and Arsenal also named as admirers. However, Newcastle will not sell cheaply, with the latest reports suggesting the club could demand a fee as high as 92 million euros for the 25-year-old.
The potential move for Gordon comes as Chelsea also monitor other attacking options. Former Chelsea winger Florent Malouda has urged the club to consider a move for Bournemouth's Eli Kroupi, though he believes the French international should confirm his form for another season first. Kroupi has attracted attention from several top clubs after a standout campaign with the Cherries.
In midfield, Chelsea are reportedly in the mix for VfB Stuttgart's Angelo Stiller. According to BILD, the 25-year-old Germany international is ready for a move this summer and is attracting interest from several clubs, including Manchester United and Juventus. Stuttgart are expected to buy out his 40 million euro release clause for a 2 million euro compensation fee, granting them control over his price, which is currently estimated at around 45 million euros.
Amidst the transfer speculation, one potential managerial target appears to be off the table. Porto coach Francesco Farioli, who had been linked with the Chelsea job, has insisted he is happy in Portugal and is not considering a departure this summer. The Italian was previously a target in January following Enzo Maresca's departure but was unwilling to leave Porto mid-season, a stance he has reiterated ahead of the summer window.
