Cesar Azpilicueta is expected to join Barcelona in the coming days as the Spanish side still hold a strong relationship with Chelsea despite ‘clashing’ in the transfer market.
The 32-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to the Camp Nou this summer despite penning an automatic one-year contract extension at Chelsea due to meeting the threshold for matches played last season.
However, despite interest from Barcelona, Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel admitted that he could look to block any move for his captain due to frustration with the negotiation tactics of the Catalan club.
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“It's a tough question because I am not sure if I want to give Azpi what he wants,” he admitted.
"At some point it is about what we want. I just made the comparison about how much we fought for (Kalidou) Koulibaly, who is a national team player and roughly the same age.
“He is a hugely important player for Napoli but we have a Spanish international who is the captain at Chelsea.
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"I see him maybe at the same level but Barcelona don’t see him on that level. So I am not sure if I want to give him what he wants as he is a huge player.
"I said that to him and I say it to you that I understand on a personal and a career level. But I am not only in this role to give him what he wants.
"I am a manager for Chelsea who wants to do what's best for Chelsea.
“He doesn't like it but he understands. It is tough for him because the other club is permanently on him.”
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Tensions between Chelsea and Barcelona appeared to be at an all time high due to the clubs conflicting in the transfer window.
Earlier in the summer, Chelsea had a £55 million bid accepted for Raphinha before two weeks passed without any progress on personal terms.
The Brazilian waited before Barcelona submitted a bid to Leeds United and signed the 25-year-old, seeing Chelsea waste time in the transfer window.
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More recently, Chelsea’s interest in Jules Kounde appeared to be turning into a concrete offer as the 23-year-old was set for a move to Stamford Bridge.
However, once again Barcelona hijacked the deal and the French international appears to be on his way to the Camp Nou this summer.
Despite these conflicts in the transfer market, Spanish journalist Toni Juanmarti has reported that Barcelona’s relationship with Chelsea remains good.
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Therefore, Azpilicueta is still set to be granted his move to La Liga.
The report states that the issue is taking longer than expected but the Blues captain is expected to receive the green light in the coming days.
It is likely that Chelsea will look to bring in a replacement before allowing Azpilicueta to depart, with Inter Milan’s Denzel Dumfries said to be a new target for Tuchel’s side.
Topics: Chelsea, Chelsea Transfer News & Rumours, Cesar Azpilicueta, Barcelona, Transfers, Football, Thomas Tuchel
Nick Emms