Barcelona are “growingly confident” of persuading Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta to make the move to Camp Nou in the summer, according to The Telegraph.
Until several weeks ago, many had forgotten how important the 32-year-old is for Chelsea as both a player and a figure.
This was largely due to Reece James and Trevoh Chalobah’s strong performances in the right wing-back and right centre-back, respectively.
James and Chalobah are young and rose up through the ranks and academy before establishing themselves in the first team.
On the other hand, Azpilicueta’s age has begun catching up with him.
However, as the Spain international showcased in the Club World Cup final, his influence on and off the pitch could make up for the drop in his physical prowess.
The former Marseille defender has now entered the final months of his contract with Chelsea which inevitably attracts interest from other clubs.
The Telegraph claims that Barcelona consider Azpilicueta as their first-choice target for the right-back position.
Well, Dani Alves’s recent return suggests how desperate the Catalan club is for reinforcement in this position.
Meanwhile, Chelsea have reportedly been trying to sign Sevilla’s Jules Kounde who, like Azpilicueta, also plays as a right-sided defender.
The club may still offer their captain an extension, like a one-year deal, but as The Telegraph points out, Barcelona seem to be ready to offer a more lucrative offer.
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