While Chelsea fans are eagerly waiting to find out the big arrivals that the Blues boss is planning to ship in after a potentially successful season in the league, very few are concerned with the big names, who could be possibly leaving the club at the end of the season.
And there is a high possibility that a number of players will be subject to lots of praise and envy and resultantly interest, in light of their consistent and disciplined performance at the top level this season. And we so hear that Barcelona’s sporting director Robert Fernandez and scout Urbano Ortega were reportedly present in the London Stadium last week to watch the Chelsea players as they went past West Ham United.
Spanish news outlet Marca has claimed that the Catalans are keeping a close eye on certain Chelsea stars which include their hardworking and unflappable full-back Cesar Azpilicueta. The 27-year-old had arrived at Stamford Bridge back in 2012 and since then he has established himself as one of their most essential players at the back.
Barcelona are desperate to bring in a quality right-back to the side as they have failed to fill the gap after the departure of Dani Alves and they have prepared a list of replacements, which also includes Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin and Southampton’s Cedric Soares. Joao Cancelo is also on Barcelona’s list of targets despite Valencia’s poor campaign till now. Azpilicueta is definitely the most experienced and slightly more successful among them and his impressive display against West Ham might just have brought him one step closer to a move to Nou camp.
A youth product of Osasuna, Azpilicueta came up the ranks of the La Liga side before Marseille bought him in 2010. After two impressive seasons with the French side where he won the French League Cup twice, the Spaniard moved to Chelsea in 2012. It didn’t take him much time to settle in and he was the first-choice right from the beginning. With Chelsea, he has won the Premier League, the Europa Cup and the League Cup.
In the 213 appearances that he has made for them, he has scored four times and assisted 23. A right-back by nature, Azpilicueta can also play as the centre-back, which we have seen a couple of times under new manager Antonio Conte. What is attractive about Azpilicueta is his no nonsense defending. He is known for his ability to hold the ball well and pass it to perfection. He has been capped only 18 times by the national team, though, since making his debut in 2013.
