Barcelona have shifted their transfer focus to Brazilian striker Joao Pedro after Paris Saint-Germain entered the race for Julian Alvarez, making the Argentine a financially unrealistic target for the Catalan club.

With Robert Lewandowski expected to leave when his contract expires at the end of the season, Barcelona's sporting director Deco has identified Pedro as the ideal replacement. The 23-year-old Chelsea forward represents a more affordable option, with a potential transfer fee of around €70 million—significantly less than the €100 million-plus PSG are reportedly willing to offer Atletico Madrid for Alvarez.

Barcelona also recognize that Atletico would prefer to sell Alvarez to a foreign club rather than strengthen a direct La Liga rival. Meanwhile, Chelsea's potential failure to qualify for European competition could make them more willing to negotiate Pedro's departure, despite the Brazilian only joining last summer.

Pedro has impressed in his debut Premier League season, netting 20 goals across all competitions despite Chelsea's inconsistent form. With the Blues set to appoint a new manager to replace Liam Rosenior this summer, further squad changes at Stamford Bridge seem inevitable.

For Barcelona, Pedro offers both quality and value—a combination that could prove crucial as they look to rebuild their attack without breaking the bank.