Barcelona tell Chelsea star they ‘plan to sign him’ – talks ‘needed’ as Blues demand £6.7m fee

Lewis Oldham
Barcelona target Azpiliceuta

According to reports, FC Barcelona ‘plan to sign’ Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta within ‘the next few weeks’.

The 32-year-old made the move to Chelsea in 2012 from French side Marseille.

The defender became their captain in 2019 and he has now played just short of 500 times for the Blues.


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His contract at Chelsea expires in 2023 as an automatic one-year extension was triggered earlier this year.

Barcelona are known to be admirers of the experienced defender and they are targeting him this summer.

Respected journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that the La Liga giants have ‘confirmed to Azpilicueta’ that they are planning to sign him.

He notes that ‘negotiations are needed’ as Chelsea have made it clear that they are ‘demanding a fee’.

Romano adds that ‘nothing is advanced’ between Chelsea and Barcelona defender Sergino Dest.

A separate report from GOAL has revealed that Chelsea want €8m (£6.7m) for Azplicueta this summer.

Elsewhere, Chelsea and Arsenal reportedly could be back in the race to sign Raphinha with the Leeds United attacker demanding a quick answer from Barcelona.

The main problem with a potential move to the Camp Nou is the money involved to make it happen with the Catalan giants no longer the financial powerhouse they once were.

Despite that, there was a report on July 2 that Barcelona were now ‘about to close the deal’ for Raphinha but there has been little hint since that they are nearing completion.

In fact, there were claims yesterday that Chelsea are ‘favourites’ for his signature if the La Liga side fail to stump up Leeds’ £65m asking price.

And now Spanish publication Nacional insists that Raphinha’s arrival at Barcelona is ‘still frozen’ as Joan Laporta ‘gives priority’ to the signing of Robert Lewandowski from Bayern Munich.

It is claimed that the Brazilian’s patience ‘will not be infinite’ and he has demanded ‘an answer within the next few days’ or he ‘won’t have a problem starting talks with other clubs’.

If he can’t secure a move to the Camp Nou then Raphinha has ‘many future options to choose from’ including Chelsea and Arsenal with his desire for Champions League football likely to see him pick the former.