Barcelona Transfer News: Blaugrana Must Keep Pedro Away from Arsenal

FC Barcelona can't let Arsenal poach Pedro Rodriguez away from the Camp Nou in the January transfer window. The pacy wide forward can still play a key role in both La Liga and the UEFA Champions League this season.

His talents are reportedly encouraging Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger to plot a bid in January. That's according to talkSPORT.co.uk:

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Barcelona star Pedro was on the brink of joining Arsenal at the end of last season and is back on Arsene Wenger's radar, according to reports in Spain.

The Spain international reportedly held talks with the north London club before the World Cup last summer but the Gunners' representatives could not convince the Catalan giants to cash in on the forward.

Sources close to the 27-year-old have revealed Pedro is still keen to play in the Premier League and fears his first-team spot may be under threat with the imminent return of record signing Luis Suarez, to join an attacking line-up already boasting household names Lionel Messi and Neymar.

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Barca have already seen Wenger secure the signing of Alexis Sanchez this summer. The outrageously gifted Chilean attacker netted 21 goals for the Blaugrana last term and has made a fast start to life in England's top flight, scoring five times in all competitions, per Arsenal.com.

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Sanchez was a big loss and Barca can't afford another one. That's despite manager Luis Enrique's ample reserves of attacking talent.

Aside from the marquee trio of Luis Suarez, Neymar Jr. and the magnificent Lionel Messi, Enrique can also call on exciting young gem Munir El Haddadi. The 19-year-old has already netted a goal and supplied an assist in La Liga action this season, per WhoScored.com.

However, despite Munir's rapid development, Enrique still needs Pedro, who bagged 19 goals in all competitions last season, per ESPN FC. For one thing, Messi, Neymar and Suarez are yet to play together, due to the latter's suspension for biting.

Enrique hasn't had the chance to see how complementary this start-studded forward line might be. He should also be wary of any potential recurrences of Suarez's disciplinary issues, as well as Neymar's health.

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The latter has been growing in stature in recent matches. He's hit seven league goals in six La Liga matches this season, per ESPN FC.

The Brazilian has endorsed his growing chemistry with Messi, per ESPN: "I am impressed by Messi for what he does on the field—the assists, his play, the goals. In my opinion he is the best in the world. We understand each other and every time we connect more. Hopefully we can grow to help Barcelona."

But as good as he's been at the start of his second season with Barca, Neymar's durability remains a concern. He is not long removed from a serious back injury sustained at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

With these types of questions surrounding Suarez and Neymar, it will be a massive boost to have an option as good as Pedro in reserve. He's one of the few players in this squad who can match Neymar's lightning-fast direct speed.

Pedro has not lost his knack for intelligent movement either. The timing of his runs between defensive gaps remains excellent. He also combines wonderfully with Messi.

Even with players as good as Neymar and Suarez ahead of him, there won't be much drop off any time Barca have to rely on Pedro. That's a tremendous asset to have at the top level, particularly in a three-way domestic title race with Atletico and Real Madrid, along with the tournament format of the Champions League.

Barca certainly won't find as good an option anywhere else, at least not in the immediate future. The club is currently linked with PSV Eindhoven's precocious winger Zakaria Bakkali, per Daily Express reporter Anthony Chapman:

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The Belgian international, dubbed 'the new Eden Hazard', has less than a year remaining on his current deal, and is set to leave the Dutch outfit in either January or at the end of the season.

Atletico Madrid and Borussia Dortmund are also interested in acquiring Bakkali's signature, but it has now emerged that Barca boss Luis Enrique is keen to bring him to the Nou Camp.

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However, Barca won't be able to sign Bakkali, or anyone for that matter, until January 2016, while the FIFA imposed transfer ban remains in place, BBC Sport.

In that context, and given Pedro's eye for goal and natural fit in this team, Enrique cannot possibly let Wenger sign another prolific Barca attacker midway through this season.