Manchester United are reportedly ready to mix it up with a host of other interested clubs for the services of Barcelona’s Pedro, but the Red Devils should take a cautious approach to the winger’s exit rumours.

According to Catalan newspaper Sport (h/t Metro), the 27-year-old is ready to leave the Blaugrana after falling down the pecking order since the arrival of Luis Suarez, with United, Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan all reportedly interested.

Barcastuff provided more details, including his main reasoning why he is looking for a new home—his spot in the Spanish squad for Euro 2016:

Reports of a potential transfer for the winger aren’t new—just last month, he admitted during a press conference that he is focused on Barcelona for the current season but isn’t making any long-term plans, per Marca:

In a recent press conference, Pedro Rodriguez declared that he has his “mind set on the club until the end of the season”, but after that, “we’ll see what happens” as “not having continuity makes things complicated”.

To stay at Barça?: “I don’t know. For now, I’m happy at the club, but you never know what’s going to happen tomorrow. I’m calm, with my mind set on the club until the end of the season and then we’ll see what happens after that”.

He’d like to have more minutes: “Not having continuity makes things complicated. It’s tough, but what I try to do is help out as much as possible.

The Barcelona youth product started the season on the bench in favour of Munir El Haddadi, before regaining his starting position once the youngster started to lose his form.

But with Suarez finding his footing in La Liga and Europe, Pedro’s playing time has once again taken a steep dive. As reported by WhoScored.com, he’s started just a single match since the end of January.

Complicating the situation is the fact Pedro will be a free agent at the end of the 2015-16 season, and according to Mundo Deportivo (h/t Barcastuff), the club is showing no urgency when it comes to renewal talks:

What we’re left with is a seemingly disgruntled veteran with plenty of football left in him, wasting away on the bench while one of the world’s top attacking groups is tearing up La Liga. In less than 18 months, he could walk for free, so it would make sense Barcelona could be looking to cash in right now.

In fact, it wouldn’t be shocking at all—El Haddadi will likely receive a bigger role in the squad next season, and highly touted youngster Adama Traore should join the senior squad as well.

The Red Devils don’t have the greatest need for another forward right now, but Bleacher Report UK’s Alex Dimond believes that could change heading into next season:

Angel Di Maria and Adnan Januzaj are the two most natural wingers currently in the squad, and both have struggled at times during the 2014-15 season. Pedro would add a new dynamic and a ton of experience to the group, but United should still display caution heading into the summer transfer window.

For starters, Louis van Gaal continues to field formations without true out-and-out wingers, and while Pedro has the versatility to line up elsewhere in the attacking front, he loses much of his effectiveness when played out of position, similar to Januzaj.

There’s also the minor detail of Barcelona’s transfer ban, which prohibits them from signing any new players to potentially replace someone like Pedro. Via Spanish football expert Rafael Hernandez, it’s a question you have to ask every time one of these rumours pops up:

The transfer embargo doesn’t mean Barcelona won’t sell Pedro—as we said earlier, El Haddadi and Traore will provide depth—but there is a risk involved for the Blaugrana. There are no guarantees any of the youngsters could adequately replace Pedro immediately, something that will be translated in the club’s asking price.

Sure, United have plenty of cash, but it makes little sense to invest upwards of £20 million in a player who only has one year left on his contract and isn’t a particularly good fit for Van Gaal‘s preferred formations, anyhow.

And with the likes of Liverpool and PSG involved, £20 million might be the bare minimum.

None of this means United shouldn’t make a push to bring in Pedro, a World Cup winner who is yet to turn 28. But patience and rational thinking are in order, and if the right deal doesn’t materialise, it’s better to pass on the veteran Spaniard.

 

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