Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta is reluctant to hand in a 'transfer request' to force Blues exit as Barcelona reportedly demand the Spaniard takes action to help secure La Liga transfer.
Xavi and senior figures at the Catalan-based club are hopeful of producing a triple swoop of Chelsea defenders. However, with the recent financial difficulties present at the Camp Nou, progress on three deals has stalled slightly. Andreas Christensen, who was released by the Blues in their recent retained and released list, is expected to sign his contract imminently alongside AC Milan's Franck Kessie.
Both players had to wait until Thursday evening to find out that the economic levers vote, which would essentially give Barca much-needed money to balance the books and conduct transfer activity in the short term, although their well-publicised financial, problems mean they must still be careful not to fall foul of Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations.
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Once these two deals are announced, the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Marcos Alonso and Azpilicueta himself could be the next pursued as Barca continues to rebuild in order to give current European Champions Real Madrid a better fun for their money next season in La Liga. Alonso is expected to be let go by Chelsea this summer but manager Thomas Tuchel and the board are more reluctant with their No. 28 who has served for 11 years to date in west London, football.london understands.
Of course, the fact that a one-year extension in the defenders' contract was activated a few months ago hasn't changed the situation and although Tuchel is keen to keep his reliable captain in this defensive reshuffle, he has already admitted that the loyalty the 32-year-old has shown to the cause means he will respect any decision he makes.
"He deserves it," the Chelsea head coach said. "And I listen to my captain. He has been at this club for more than a decade, so he has this right. This is my opinion. He is everything Chelsea is about, and I am so, so happy he is the captain because he is humble, hard-working, a nice guy and a polite guy. I am happy that in football, it's possible a guy like this can win all the trophies. That sets the example. It sets the tone. It sets the atmosphere at a very high level.
"This is absolutely clear, but there are more layers and levels we have to consider. It is also whether he can give all that, whether he is fully committed. If he cannot get rid of this feeling [about wanting a new challenge], we have to talk about it openly, seriously, and respectfully because he deserves it. We [need to] find out if he can give everything that makes him special. I think, with all the respect, he can only be special if he is committed 100% and does not have another little voice in his head, not one concern in his head, that he should have done something differently.
"He is only the guy he is when he is fully committed. That is his foundation. So this is what we have to find out. That does not mean we find it out tomorrow or today, we still have time because we are also in the privileged position where we have a contract. We have to see."
Regardless of how this transfer saga unfolds, Azpilicueta appears determined to leave the club he holds so dearly to his heart on good terms. This is because, as reported in the The Daily Mail, the former Marseille man is unwilling to submit a transfer request with Barca understood to be putting internal pressure on the Spanish international to take action in order for negotiations to progress.
Chelsea fans- Would you be annoyed with the club if they let Andreas Christensen, Marcos Alonso and Cesar Azpilicueta all join Barcelona this summer or do you think this is the right thing to do? Leave your thoughts down below in the comments section below!
