"In the end, we will need to sign some players, which is why we are working," Deco told reporters on Tuesday after returning from London with assistant director Bojan Krkić.
"There are many players we are speaking with a little, their entourage, to see what is going to happen. We have not yet spoken to clubs... we are working a little."
The visit to London was widely understood to concern João Pedro, the 24-year-old Brazilian who won Chelsea's player of the year award after finishing as the club's top scorer. Deco denied meeting the player himself but acknowledged familiarity with his circle.
"I know the environment around João Pedro quite well," he said, before adding: "But that is not the topic."
Chelsea have been unequivocal in their public position. Fabrizio Romano confirmed that the club's stance, communicated internally to Barcelona, is that Pedro is not for sale — and that incoming manager Xabi Alonso regards the forward as central to his plans for 2026-27. Chelsea are willing to lose Liam Delap, whose single Premier League goal in an injury-hit season has accelerated his exit, but Pedro is different.
Barcelona's interest stems from the departure of Robert Lewandowski, who played his final match for the club last weekend. The Poland international scored 119 goals in 191 appearances during four seasons at the Spotify Camp Nou. Deco has described finding a successor as "almost impossible."
Julián Álvarez remains the primary target. The Argentina international has made clear to his representatives that he wants to leave Atletico Madrid this summer, and his preference remains a move to Barcelona. But Atletico are demanding a minimum of €120 million — a figure Barcelona cannot currently reach without a complex structure involving player exchanges.
On Álvarez, Deco offered only two words: "We will see."
On Marcus Rashford, who returns to Manchester United at the end of his loan in June, Deco declined to comment at all — a silence that in itself carries meaning.
Barcelona face a summer of creative financial engineering. The players they want are available. The money to sign them, largely, is not.