Barca plan to raid Chelsea for Cesar Azpilicueta and Andreas Christensen. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)
According to the Spanish media outlet Sport (h/t The Sun), Barcelona are close to securing the services of Chelsea star Cesar Azpilicueta as talks are progressing with Andreas Christensen over a contract offer. This update would deal a massive blow to the English club as they are at risk of losing two of their prominent players after this term.
Azpilicueta and Christensen have less than six months left on their current deal at Stamford Bridge. They are legally permitted to reach a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs right now and Barca are looking to take advantage of the situation that is unfolding at the Bridge.
The Catalans have offered our skipper a two-year contract with an option to extend it by another year. Thomas Tuchel’s side, meanwhile, has proposed only a one-year deal to the veteran.
As for Christensen, it is believed that the Dane already told his club “several months ago” that he would leave on a free transfer. Negotiations over a lucrative long-term offer are underway with the Spanish club and are “progressing well” at this instant.
It is truly a shame that we find ourselves in such a position with regards to some of our best defensive players. The board should have dealt with this matter much earlier but then again, that is much easier said than done. Azpi and Christensen may have ambitions that exceed the boundaries of west London.
But we are now in a position where we are clearly up against the wall, and the Catalan giants are quick on the scene. The most we can do right now is observe from the sidelines, granted the defensive duo continues to show a reluctance towards extending their stay at Chelsea.
It is also a worry that not just Azpi and Christensen, but also Antonio Rudiger can leave the club this summer. What makes this potential triple exit worse is that they would all be free transfers if no new deal is penned before the next season commences.
Even if a move to Xavi Hernandez’s side breaks down in the future, Atletico Madrid have also offered a contract to Azpilicueta. Having lost Marc Guehi and Fikayo Tomori last summer, we don’t have a healthy roster of youngsters to fall back upon if an exodus does happen this summer.
As for Christensen, it remains to be seen if the Dane budges from his stance about wanting to leave the club. With Bayern Munich and multiple Premier League clubs also vying for his signature, we must prepare a safety net to deal with his eventual exit next summer.
With all that is happening with our defenders regarding their contract issues, and Thiago Silva not getting any younger, hopefully, the club has plans of bringing in some new faces if some of our main men at the back do end up leaving this year.
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