Barcelona plot squad overhaul as they close in on Chelsea duo Andreas Christensen and Cesar Azpilicueta
According to the Spanish outlet AS (h/t The Sun), Barcelona are plotting to overhaul their current squad as they close in on Chelsea duo Andreas Christensen and Cesar Azpilicueta for that purpose. Both of them have continued to play a crucial role under Thomas Tuchel despite their future prospects being up in the air.
Christensen and Azpilicueta will see their current contracts expire in this summer transfer window. As such, they are likely to leave Stamford Bridge after this season as a result of the sanctions imposed on the club by the UK Government. As a result of the restrictions, the Blues cannot renew their deals unless leeways are given moving forward.
Barca have decided to focus on signing free agents this summer also clearing out eight players in the process. Neto, Clement Lenglet, Samuel Umtiti, Oscar Mingueza, Riqui Puig, Martin Braithwaite, Luuk de Jong and Sergi Roberto could all leave Camp Nou as a part of the summer overhaul. The Premier League duo will be joined by AC Milan’s Franck Kessie, who is also out of contract, and is set to join the La Liga side after completing a medical.
Lost causes?
Seeing two of your important players leave for free is always a damning blow indeed, but things have been made worse by the current situation. The sale of the West London side has not been finalised just yet, which means that the uncertainty surrounding the club is getting dragged on for longer.
The more time passes, the more we are at risk of losing out on potential targets and our out of contract players as well. We cannot afford to see that happen, so it would be wise if we convince the Government to ease the restrictions as it would affect our sporting project under Tuchel.
The Blaugrana club have been pressuring us for quite some time, but we cannot retaliate to make our case for now. That is the most frustrating part, which makes us helpless, especially if Christensen and Azpilicueta decide to sign a pre-contract agreement with the Spanish side.
Azpilicueta offers us quality and depth in the centre-back as well as right-wingback position. Losing the Spaniard could drive up the cost necessary to look for replacements, which is not feasible under the current situation. As for Christensen, the Dane offers long term solidity and experience at the same time.
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Thiago Silva, for example, would need to be replaced soon enough, while Malang Sarr is not ready to feature regularly for us. In such circumstances, Christensen would have been very useful, but it remains to be seen if he stays with us or not. With Antonio Rudiger also being in line to become a free agent this summer, our backs are forced against the wall at this moment.
The club should ask the out of contract stars to give them some time until the end of this campaign to rectify the current set of problems. Let’s hope that the centre-backs trio would do just that as a mode of token for the time they have spent with us.