Barcelona are reportedly inching closer towards the capture of Chelsea defensive duo Cesar Azpilicueta and Andreas Christensen on free transfers.
According to Catalan publication SPORT, Barcelona are closing in on signing Chelsea defenders Cesar Azpilicueta and Andreas Christensen on Bosman deals. The pair will have their contracts run out at the end of the season.
Azpilicueta has been with Chelsea since 2012 when he arrived from Marseille. The defender has been an excellent servant for the Blues and is a firm fan favourite at Stamford Bridge due to his attitude, desire and commitment to the team. The 32-year-old has made over 450 appearances for the west London giants, playing at right-back, left-back, centre-back or wing-back – wherever the team has needed him.
Currently the captain of the team, Azpilicueta, is in the final six months of his contract with Chelsea. Talks over a new deal have been held but not progressed according to plans, leading to speculations over his future. Barcelona have been closely following the situation of the Spanish international and are now poised to sign him.
Barcelona will need a new right-back in the summer as Dani Alves’s contract will expire at the end of the season, whereas Sergino Dest is linked with an exit from Camp Nou. A player of Azpilicueta’s experience, leadership skills and versatility would be an excellent addition for Xavi Hernandez’s side as they look to build a team capable of bringing back glory days at the club.
It has been claimed that Barcelona have reached an agreement in principle with Azpilicueta. And as per the report, his signing on a three-year deal is practically completed.
As for Christensen, he, too, is in the final few months of his contract with Chelsea. The 25-year-old, who joined the Blues’ youth setup back in 2012, has become a regular in the side under Thomas Tuchel. However, he has had to share game-time with the likes of Thiago Silva and Trevoh Chalobah, which could have led to him considering the possibility of an exit.
Barcelona have had their eyes on him for a while now. They had opened talks over a pre-contract agreement. But the Catalan giants pressed pause on the negotiations to explore other options. However, as per the report, they have Christensen back in their crosshairs as they scour the market for a long-term replacement for Gerard Pique.
The Blaugrana have already made a contract offer for the Chelsea defender and are expecting a response in a week. It is claimed that Christensen has several offers on the table, but his priority would be to join Barcelona, increasing the likelihood of the deal going through. So, as things stand, the La Liga heavyweights are on the verge of completing a double deal for the Chelsea duo.
