Pedro could remain at Chelsea beyond the current season, according to Joe Krishnan of the Evening Standard. The Spaniard’s contract expires this summer, and previous reports suggested the decision to leave the club had already been made. However, Pedro has now talked about being open to the possibility of a contract extension.
Pedro Could Remain a Chelsea Player Next Season
Talks to Commence
Many Chelsea fans believed they had seen Pedro play his last game for the club, with the season suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak the likelihood of the season recommencing has looked remote.
The 32-year-old made the move to Stamford Bridge in August 2015 for £21 million from Barcelona. Until the latter stages of the current season, he had not featured often under Frank Lampard’s management. In the previous two seasons, Pedro made 31 Premier League appearances in each year. This season, however, he has only played in nine Premier League matches, notching just the single goal.
An Uncertain Future
The Spaniard’s contract expires in June but insists he remains uncertain where he will be plying his trade next season. Having seemed certain he would be leaving Stamford Bridge, Pedro now appears to be leaving his options open.
In an interview with the official Chelsea website, Pedro said: “As many people know, my contract is up in May. But I still haven’t spoken to the club about whether or not it will be renewed and whether I’ll carry on.”
Much will now depend on Lampard’s vision for the club going forward and whether Pedro remains in his plans. If the Chelsea boss continues to steer more towards youth, then Pedro’s Chelsea days may still come to an end this summer. The 32-year-old said he has not spoken to any other clubs about next season either, when he will be a free agent.
Contract Confusion
Of course, the current Coronavirus outbreak has brought a level of confusion around player contracts. The game’s authorities will need to provide clarification as to whether contracts can be extended to the end of the season. That is if the season is completed at all and is not voided, as has happened in non-league football.
Pedro has been in quarantine due to his team-mate, Callum Hudson-Odoi, testing positive for Coronavirus. This, alongside travel restrictions, has meant he has been unable to see his children in Spain. Pedro has paid for 3,000 protective screens for hospitals back in Spain according to reports, in a country severely hit by the virus. These latter points once more place the football side of things in true perspective.
Yet football will re-commence once more at some point in the future. Only when contract talks begin again will we learn whether Chelsea are keen to retain the services of the talented Spaniard.
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