West Ham set to miss out on Alen Halilovic as Barcelona use Croatian midfielder as bait in search for Pedro replacement

Alen Halilovic (left) on the ball during the Joan Gamper Trophy match against Roma on Wednesday

West Ham set to miss out on Alen Halilovic as Barcelona use Croatian midfielder as bait in search for Pedro replacement

Alen Halilovic could be shipped out by Barcelona to Celta Vigo on loan

It would be part of a deal for Celta Vigo forward Nolito

Barca are trying to land a replacement for Manchester United-bound Pedro

West Ham could miss out on Croatian midfielder Alen Halilovic because Barcelona want to use him as bait to land a replacement for Pedro.

As they wait for the Spain winger to complete his move to Manchester United, Barca have lined-up Celta Vigo forward Nolito as Pedro’s successor but Celta want Halilovic to be part of the deal.

Nolito’s buy-out clause is set at 18m euros (£12.7m) but Barça are offering 14m euros (£9.9m) and will sweeten the deal by including Halilovic on loan.

Pedro also played for Barcelona in Wednesday's friendly - but he looks set to move to Manchester United

It means West Ham could miss out on one of European football's brightest midfield prospects. It will also see Nolito go back to Barcelona – the club he left in 2011 as a frustrated Barca B player.

It’s also further evidence that Barca are resigned to losing Pedro who should complete his switch to Manchester United next week.

Nolito has scored 47 goals in just over 150 games since leaving Barca B for Benfica and then Celta.

He could stay at Celta until January when Barcelona will be free to register him with La Liga after their UEFA ban on transfers comes to an end.