Chelsea trio Cesar Azpilicueta, Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen are all in Barcelona’s ‘sights’ as they look to bolster their defence this summer.
That’s according to Sport, who say all three are on the radar at the Camp Nou due to their contracts expiring in the summer.
That has led Barcelona’s sporting directors to follow the trio ‘closely’ as they aim to reinforce their defence without paying a transfer fee.
While the Spanish club already have six central defenders on their books, not all of them have a secure future at the club, so they are planning to add in the position.
The two names that are ‘gaining more weight’ are Azpilicueta and Christensen, who are ahead of Chelsea teammate Rudiger in Barcelona’s thinking at this point.
Sport explain that Azpilicueta has asked Chelsea for a new two-year deal plus an option year, something that is ‘far from the possibilities’ the Blues can offer him. Thus his departure is ‘on track’.
Christensen, meanwhile, is ‘in favour of a change of scenery’ after spending seven seasons in London, and Barcelona are willing to offer it to him.
He’s currently behind Azpilicueta in the thinking because his ‘experience and versatility’, the latter being his ability to play at right-back as well, make him the prime target.
He is also a key player for Luis Enrique’s Spain squad and has shared a dressing room with several Barcelona stars such as Eric Garcia, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets and Ferran Torres.
That means he would fit in well at the Nou Camp and they are very much eyeing up a move when his Chelsea deal comes to an end.
