Transfer News: Chelsea veteran closing in on La Liga switch

Barcelona are close to signing Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta

According to Fichajes (h/t Football.London), Barcelona are thought to be in the ‘final stretch’ of the deal for Chelsea veteran Cesar Azpilicueta. The Spaniard is assured that the club will let this move take place.

The 32-year-old defender has been one of our longest-serving defenders to date. He has made 466 appearances, bagging 16 goals and 56 assists in the process for the Blues so far. Azpilicueta has largely deputised in the wingback role recently but the injuries to Reece James and Ben Chilwell have seen him play a more prominent role this season.

This news may be coming at the most unfortunate time for us as Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen could also depart Stamford Bridge at the end of the 2021-22 season. In such a scenario we could be severely short of options in our defensive setup next campaign.

A defensive exodus at Stamford Bridge

The Spanish international has been a rock at the back, helping the club win a plethora of trophies during his time with the West London club. He also played a key role in guiding us to our first-ever FIFA Club World Cup this February. While the start of the season showed great promise, injury issues and off-field problems have largely derailed any momentum.

We could learn the identity of our new owners as soon as the end of April, but considering the latest developments, it certainly won’t be an easy task. The backline may need a rebuild of sorts which could require heavy spending and spot-on recruitment.

We have in the past spent huge sums of money only for very little on-field dividends from them. As such his experience at the elite level along with his composure could be a great asset to most clubs in the world. He is a great example of what a thorough professional looks like and could help the youngsters in the dressing room a great deal.

Whilst his departure may be a big blow, we do have options like Thiago Silva and Trevoh Chalobah to choose from. That being said, the Brazilian isn’t getting any younger at 37 and Chalobah has just started making inroads into the first-team setup.

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It could seem like a big stretch to ask them to fill in every week, considering that we play across several competitions during a season. Purchasing defensive reinforcement may become inevitable if all of these points are taken into consideration.

With that in mind, should Azpilicueta leave Stamford Bridge at the end of the season, the fans should have no qualms as to the service he has provided us. The Spanish international has given us some of his best professional years and though the timing may be really bad, we hope that he continues to enjoy his football whether with Chelsea or Barcelona.