Barcelona Transfer News: Latest Javier Mascherano and Pedro Rumours

Barcelona are set to fend off interest from AS Roma in defensive linchpin Javier Mascherano. The UEFA Champions League winners may also be ready to put the brakes on Pedro Rodriguez's potential exit from the club.

While the prolific wide forward may eventually be allowed to leave the Camp Nou, the Barca hierarchy will probably want to keep Mascherano around a little longer. That will depend on him resisting advances from Serie A.

Italian outfit Roma have "made contact with the Catalan club about Argentina veteran Mascherano." That's according to Italian publication Gazzetta Dello Sport (h/t Forza Italian Football).

The report indicates 31-year-old Mascherano won't come cheap: "The Gazzetta Dello Sport claims that it would take a fee of €15 million for Barca to part with the combative midfielder, while the Giallorossi would offer an annual salary of €3.5 million plus bonuses."

Matthias Schrader/Associated Press

Apparently, Roma boss Rudi Garcia is enamoured with Mascherano's ability to play in midfield and defence. That makes sense given how Mascherano has refined his game to become a master of two key positions.

He's still a terrific holding midfielder. Mascherano's positional sense and destructive instincts make him a highly effective shield for any defence. He excelled in this role for Argentina during the 2014 FIFA World Cup, helping his nation reach the final.

At club level, Mascherano has reshaped himself into a smart and sturdy centre-back. He's the mainstay of a Barca defence that acted as the backbone of the La Liga side's treble-winning 2014/15 campaign.

His importance at the back is one reason why Roma are likely to struggle turning interest into an actual transfer. Barca's transfer ban, in effect until 2016, is another major "stumbling block," according to the aforementioned Gazzetta report: "Coach Luis Enrique is adamant that the Catalan club will hold onto all of their first team players until the embargo expires."

Martin Meissner/Associated Press

It's safe to count on Mascherano still suiting up for Enrique's squad in the new season.

Pedro Exit Could be Blocked by Presidential Elections

Mascherano may be sticking around, but Pedro's exit seems inevitable. In fact, Paul Brown of the Daily Star has reported the 27-year-old will join Premier League champions Chelsea next week in a deal worth £22 million.

But if Joan Laporta wins the upcoming presidential elections in Barcelona, Pedro will be going nowhere. That's according to Simon Johnson of the London Evening Standard. He quoted ex-Barca and France defender Eric Abidal expressing his and Laporta's desire to keep Pedro in the fold:

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Former Barcelona defender Eric Abidal will be appointed the club's sporting director should Laporta succeed and confirmed their plan to keep him.

He said: "Players such as Pedro cannot be allowed to go. He is still an important part of this squad. If Laporta wins, we will look at his future."

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Keeping Pedro certainly makes sense for Barca. After all, he only agreed a new contract back in June, per Goal's Robin Bairner. Of course, deals between players and clubs are hardly ever honoured in today's game.

Perhaps more importantly, Pedro is still an essential member of Enrique's squad. He's the notable deputy for Barcelona's awesome forward trio Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar Jr.

He only scored 11 goals in all competitions last season, per WhoScored.com, but five of those came during Barca's triumphant cup run in the Copa del Rey.

Players with Pedro's movement, pace and quality as a finisher are rare. He's also highly versatile, able to operate on either flank or through the middle.

Those are qualities Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho would certainly welcome. Yet Pedro recently denied he'd been in contact with the Blues, according to Chisanga Malata of the Daily Star: "It’s true that both parties decided to reduce my release clause, and it’s true that there are offers. I’m in a difficult situation at Barcelona, but I don’t want to jump the gun. I just want to start working with my team-mates again."

Pedro needs games, but he's still a key member of a highly decorated squad. He's also a Barca product from the club's famed youth academy.

If Enrique and the new president are smart, they'll keep Pedro out of Mourinho's grasp.