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Barcelona board and Xavi split on raiding Chelsea for Azpilicueta and Christensen despite duo ‘willing to join for free’

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BARCELONA are pondering a move for Chelsea pair Cesar Azpilicueta and Andreas Christensen, Spanish reports say.

The Blues defensive duo are both out of contract at the end of the season, and yet to renew their deals.

Cesar Azpilicueta and Andreas Christensen are both linked with BarcelonaCredit: Andy Hooper-The Daily Mail

Unless they sign a contract extension, in January they are allowed to start negotiating a free transfer abroad.

According to Sport, both Azpilicueta, 30, and Christensen, 25, are keen on a move to Barca, with the LaLiga giants also interested.

But it is claimed no official offers have been made to the pair.

Juventus’ Matthijs de Ligt, 22, is said to be Barca boss Xavi’s preferred choice, but a far more expensive one at that.

That means the club legend oculd soon be at odds with his cash-strapped bosses.

Especially with fund now even lower after the club somehow funded the £55million deal for Man City’s Ferran Torres.

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Chelsea also face losing Antonio Rudiger, 28, with the German also facing six months left on his deal.

And there is growing concern from Stamford Bridge that the German will not renew, with Real Madrid a heavily linked alternative.

Contrary to reports in Spain, club captain Azpilicueta on the other hand is willing to stay and fight for his place, The Athletic say.

But Chelsea have long had a policy of only offering players over 30 one-year extensions.

Christensen meanwhile could be closing in on a new deal, along with Thiago Silva, journalist  Gianluca Di Marzio reported.

Silva, 37, signed on a free from PSG in 2019 and was handed one year with the option to extend.

That was triggered, but the Brazilian is set to now sign another 12-month deal.

Thiago Silva and Antonio Rudiger are both out of contract at the end of the seasonCredit: Reuters

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk

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