La Liga giants Barcelona are reportedly planning to hold fresh talks with Chelsea for the summer transfer of Cesar Azpilicueta.
According to Spanish publication SPORT, Barcelona are prepared to make a fresh approach to convince Chelsea to sell Spanish right-back Cesar Azpilicueta in the ongoing transfer window. The Blaugrana have a long-standing interest in the veteran defender and have made an offer previously.
Adding reinforcements to their defensive unit was one of the Catalan giants’ priorities this summer. Barcelona were involved in a lengthy transfer battle with Chelsea for the signing of Sevilla centre-back Jules Kounde and finally managed to sign him after the Blues reportedly stepped out of the chase.
With Kounde now secured, Barcelona have now turned their attention towards the full-back department, with Azpilicueta their top target for the right-back position. Chelsea left-back Marcos Alonso is also reportedly on the radar of the Blaugrana and a move cannot be ruled out.
However, for now, the Catalan giants are focused on 32-year-old Spanish international Cesar Azpilicueta. The Chelsea captain is a versatile defender who can play on the right of a back three and also as a right-back in a back four. This would provide Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez with the option of playing with both systems.
Barcelona are aware that negotiations with Chelsea could be tough as they have signed two of the west London club’s top targets this summer. Both Raphinha and Kounde were heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge but eventually chose Camp Nou as their next destination.
Robert Lewandowski was also reportedly a summer transfer target for Thomas Tuchel before he joined Barcelona instead. However, the Catalan club are reportedly optimistic that a deal could be struck with Chelsea, with talks with the Blues scheduled for next week.
Azpilicueta joined Chelsea from Marseille back in 2012 and has since grown into a club great. He has won a UEFA Champions League and two Premier League titles with the west London club and is also the club captain. In all, Azpilicueta has made 474 appearances for the Blues, scoring 17 goals and providing 55 assists. It remains to be seen if the Chelsea captain joins Barcelona anytime soon.
