Chelsea are likely to make a last-ditch bid to hijack Manchester United’s deal with Barcelona for winger Pedro.

United remain firmly in pole position to sign the Spain international after executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward flew to Barcelona for further talks on Monday.

Woodward is still confident a deal will be done once the structure of payments is agreed.

Chelsea are likely to make a last-ditch bid to hijack Manchester United’s deal with Barcelona for winger Pedro

But Manchester United remain firmly in pole position to sign the Spain international (right)

Manchester United's chief executive Ed Woodward flew to Barcelona to have further talks regarding Pedro

TROPHY HUNTERS If Pedro comes to the Premier League he would have the second most trophies won — for club and country — of current players. 1 Bastian Schweinsteiger 18 2= Pedro 15 2= Victor Valdes 15 4= John Terry 14 4= Wes Brown 14 6 Petr Cech 13 7= Yaya Toure 12 7= Martin Demichelis 12 9= John Mikel Obi 11 9= Xherdan Shaqiri 11 9= Ibrahim Afellay 11 Advertisement

However, it is understood Chelsea are ready to go toe-to-toe with their Barclays Premier League rivals as they look to boost their own attacking options before the close of the summer transfer window.

Chelsea had an interest in the 28-year-old earlier in the summer but coach Jose Mourinho wasn’t sure.

Now, though, the Premier League champions are back on the scene with owner Roman Abramovich particularly keen on the player.

United’s neighbours Manchester City are also interested in Pedro but will only follow that up if their pursuit of Wolfsburg midfielder Kevin De Bruyne comes to nothing.

Pedro has been ready to join United for some time and is aware of the terms of a move to Old Trafford.

The longer they prevaricate over the finer points of a fee that must match the £22m buy-out clause in Pedro’s contract, however, the more the door remains open for one of their rivals.

Pedro, in action against Bilbao on Monday in the Spanish Super Cup, wants to leave the Nou Camp

Pedro scored the winner in extra time in last week's European Super Cup against Sevilla