Barcelona are planning to raid Stamford Bridge for Chelsea pair Cesar Azpilicueta and Andreas Christensen as the Blaugrana look to revamp their defense on a budget.
The pair will form part of a wider plan from Xavi and co. to add four out of contract defenders to their side this summer, with Ajax fullback Noussair Mazraoui and Valencia left-back Jose Gaya also free to move on this summer.
Danish center-back Christensen is a key part of the Blues defense under Thomas Tuchel, having made 14 Premier League appearances for the London side this season before suffering an injury.
However, Barcelona are thought to be ready to offer the 25 year old center-back a five year deal to become the lynchpin of the Catalan side’s defence.
Barcelona contract proposal for Andreas Christensen has been improved in the last 48 hours: five year deal on the table, Xavi’s pushing to sign Christensen as key player for his ideas. 🇩🇰 #FCB
Bayern are still trying but Barça are now more than confident. BVB, not an option. pic.twitter.com/lDa9t7pB8o
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 2, 2022
Azpi to follow?
It seems certain that Christensen will leave the club this summer, and Cesar Azpilicueta seems likely to follow, with Barcelona also having made a move for the Spaniard veteran in an attempt to lure him back to Spain.
Barcelona have confirmed to César Azpilicueta they are prepared to wait for his final decision between Chelsea and FCB. Barça are now confident – but it’s about life, family and more. 🇪🇸 #FCB
Barcelona bid on the table: contract until June 2024 plus option for further season. pic.twitter.com/IelAWzYYXw
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 1, 2022
The ball seems to be in the player’s court now, with a decision likely to be made shortly. Were Barcelona to add another four free agents to the four that have arrived in the last 8 months, it would represent quite the rebuild for the cash-strapped side.
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Premier League table
| # | Team | MP | D | P |
| 1 | Manchester City | 27 | 47 | 66 |
| 2 | Liverpool FC | 26 | 50 | 60 |
| 3 | Chelsea FC | 25 | 31 | 50 |
| 4 | Manchester United | 27 | 10 | 47 |
| 5 | West Ham United | 27 | 12 | 45 |
| 6 | Arsenal FC | 24 | 11 | 45 |
| 7 | Tottenham Hotspur | 25 | 3 | 42 |
| 8 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 26 | 3 | 40 |
| 9 | Southampton FC | 26 | -3 | 35 |
| 10 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 26 | -5 | 33 |
| 11 | Crystal Palace | 27 | -1 | 30 |
| 12 | Leicester City | 24 | -4 | 30 |
| 13 | Aston Villa | 25 | -4 | 30 |
| 14 | Newcastle United | 25 | -17 | 25 |
| 15th | Brentford FC | 27 | -17 | 24 |
| 16 | Leeds United | 26 | -31 | 23 |
| 17 | Everton FC | 24 | -13 | 22 |
| 18 | Burnley FC | 25 | -10 | 21 |
| 19 | Watford FC | 26 | -22 | 19 |
| 20 | Norwich City | 26 | -40 | 17 |
| Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 19 |
| Jota, Diogo | Liverpool FC | 12 |
| Mane, Sadio | Liverpool FC | 11 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur | 10 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City | 10 |
| Sterling, Raheem | Manchester City | 10 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 9 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 9 |
| Ronaldo, Cristiano | Manchester United | 9 |
| Smith-Rowe, Emile | Arsenal FC | 9 |
| Rafinha | Leeds United | 9 |
| Bowen, Jarrod | West Ham United | 8 |
| Antonio, Michael | West Ham United | 8 |
| Mahrez, Riyad | Manchester City | 8 |
| Gallagher, Conor | Crystal Palace | 8 |
| Kane, Harry | Tottenham Hotspur | 8 |
| Maupay, Neal | Brighton & Hove Albion | 8 |
| Zaha, Wilfried | Crystal Palace | 8 |
| Mount, Mason | Chelsea FC | 7 |
| Saka, Bukayo | Arsenal FC | 7 |
| Player | Team | Red Cards | Yellow Cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neves, Ruben | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 0 | 9 |
| Salisu, Mohammed | Southampton FC | 0 | 8 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 0 | 7 |
| Cash, Matty | Aston Villa | 0 | 8 |
| Brownhill, Josh | Burnley FC | 0 | 8 |
| Mctominay, Scott | Manchester United | 0 | 8 |
| Firpo, Junior | Leeds United | 0 | 8 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 0 | 7 |
| Rice, Declan | West Ham United | 0 | 7 |
| Moreno, Rodrigo | Leeds United | 0 | 7 |
| Tarkowski, James | Burnley FC | 0 | 7 |
| Shaw, Luke | Manchester United | 0 | 7 |
| Mings, Tyrone | Aston Villa | 0 | 7 |
| Maguire, Harry | Manchester United | 0 | 6 |
| Bissouma, Yves | Brighton & Hove Albion | 0 | 7 |
| Williams, Brandon | Norwich City | 0 | 7 |
| Antonio, Michael | West Ham United | 0 | 5 |
| Gallagher, Conor | Crystal Palace | 0 | 6 |
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 1 | 5 |
| Jimenez, Raul | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 0 | 5 |
| Player | Team | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 10 |
| Alexander-Arnold, Trent | Liverpool FC | 10 |
| Robertson, Andy | Liverpool FC | 9 |
| Bowen, Jarrod | West Ham United | 8 |
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 8 |
| Jesus, Gabriel | Manchester City | 7 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 6 |
| Antonio, Michael | West Ham United | 6 |
| Mount, Mason | Chelsea FC | 6 |
| Barnes, Harvey | Leicester City | 6 |
| Cancelo, Joao | Manchester City | 6 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur | 5 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 5 |
| Lacazette, Alexandre | Arsenal FC | 5 |
| James, Rece | Chelsea FC | 5 |
| Henderson, Jordan | Liverpool FC | 5 |
| Kovacic, Mateo | Chelsea FC | 5 |
| Olise, Michael | Crystal Palace | 5 |
| Redmond, Nathan | Southampton FC | 5 |
| Mahrez, Riyad | Manchester City | 4 |