Chelsea on brink of £21m Pedro deal as Manchester United walk away from Barcelona talks

Manchester United have officially ended their interest in signing Barcelona winger Pedro, leaving Chelsea free to sign the player for a fee of £21m, according to reports in Spain. Mundo Deportivo and Marca now both claim that Pedro, 28, is poised to complete a move to Stamford Bridge after a deal was struck on Tuesday evening (18 August). Marca goesx as far to suggest the Spain international is already undergoing a medical in London.

On Tuesday night a number of British media outlets, including The Guardian, reported Chelsea had launched a last-minute effort to sign the World Cup winner, following United's delay in agreeing a fee for the player.

Barcelona have been adamant that any club wishing to sign the player this summer must pay his €30m (£21m, $32.9m) release clause in full. United executive vice chairman Ed Woodward flew out to Barcelona on Monday to continue talks with the Catalan giants but, in a shocking twist, Louis van Gaal's side have now ended their interest in the player, the Daily Mail claims.

United have been tipped as favourites to land Pedro, who is ready to leave the Nou Camp in order to gain more first team opportunities. But it would appear their delay in meeting Barcelona's asking price for the player has cost them.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has previously suggested he is happy with his current squad options, but after his side's 3-0 hammering at the hands of Manchester City on Sunday, the Premier League champions are now ready to strengthen their side. Chelsea were initially linked with Pedro earlier this summer, only for the player to deny claims he had personally held talks with Mourinho.

As reported by Goal, he told the press: "I did not talk to Mourinho. That would have been disrespectful to Barcelona. It is true that it was agreed to lower the buy-out clause and it is also true that there are offers."