Chelsea could lose Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso amid Barcelona interest.
Quite a few names are expected to leave Stamford Bridge this summer and two of them are likely to be Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta and long-time fullback, Marcos Alonso.
The Spanish defensive pair are subject to long-term interest from Barcelona and with both players having only one year left on their current deal, the Catalan giants find themselves in a position to strike a cut-price deal for the duo. According to Spanish outlet Sport (h/t football.london), Chelsea wants €13million for each defender – €26million in total for the pair.
Ben Chilwell’s arrival two summers ago meant that Alonso slipped down the pecking order and played second fiddle to the 25-year-old England international. Alonso joined the Blues from Fiorentina in the summer of 2016 and has since gone on to win every major silverware there is to win at club level.
A horrific injury to Chilwell’s cruciate ligament last November rendered him out for up to six months, which in turn made Alonso Chelsea’s de facto left wing-back for the remainder of the season. It seemed like only a matter of time until the Spaniard left for a more starring role elsewhere, and it seems like that moment is near.
Captain Azpilicueta – who Chelsea fans just call Dave, his association with the club goes back way longer. When you think of a “club man” in football, Dave is the epitome of it.
He has now spent a decade at Chelsea and is firmly embedded in the club’s culture, community and history. If it was totally up to him, he would most likely love to retire in Chelsea blue. Sadly, things always don’t work that way.
Modern football is different. Clubs are now essentially conglomerates that need to make the right decisions at the right time to deliver on-field expectations as well as financial goals. Former director Marina Granovskaia had forged a reputation for making pragmatic rather than emotional decisions.
Club legends Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole weren’t offered new contracts in 2014. Didier Drogba’s out-of-contract status was a major backdrop to Chelsea’s Champions League final against Bayern Munich. Even after essentially winning the holy grail for the Blues, Drogba wasn’t offered a new deal that year. John Terry was allowed to leave as well in 2017, after 22 years at the club.
With one year left on his deal, Azpilicueta – despite his incredible status at Chelsea, isn’t sure if he will be offered a new deal next year. Even if he is, his role is likely to be more diminished than ever should Chelsea be able to land the pair of Jules Kounde and Matthijs de Ligt.
Alonso on the other hand has been subject to criticism so often, that it’s easy to overlook the fact that he has made 211 appearances now for Chelsea and has been a very valuable contributor to the club’s success. He has scored several key goals for us and lest we forget, Alonso has bailed Chelsea out on numerous occasions.
Two incredible servicemen are on the verge of leaving. The future seems exciting, but the past is often painful to let go of. The club has moved on from Cech, Terry, Cole, Lampard, Drogba, and so many others, it will move on from Dave and Alonso too. Although at some level, Chelsea may feel their absence. After all, a club captain and a potent goal-threat are always hard to replace. Can Chelsea do enough in the market to not be bothered by their departures?
Be careful what you wish for, you just may get it.
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