Cesar Azpilicueta Emerges as Summer Target for La Liga Champions Barcelona

Published on: 09 June 2016

"?Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta has emerged as a somewhat surprise summer target for Barcelona as the Catalans look to replace the departing Dani Alves, who recently chose to bring an eight-year spell at Camp Nou to an end in favour of a move to Juventus.


The reigning La Liga champions had expressed faith in Aleix Vidal and Sergi Roberto to step up and take over from Alves, while La Masia schooled Hector Bellerin appears to be the main target.

However, according to the Daily Telegraph, Azpilicueta has been included on a list of potential full-backs should Barça not manage to prise Bellerin away from a determined Arsenal.


Reports in Spain earlier this week were already linked Azpilicueta with a potential move to Athletic Bilbao. It was said at the time that the Basque club have been interested ever since the player was at Osasuna in his younger days.


Currently with the Spain squad ahead of the reigning champions' Euro 2016 opener against Czech Republic on Monday, Azpilicueta is one of the few Chelsea players to have come out of the recently concluded domestic season with any pride still intact.

Big changes are expected in general at Stamford Bridge this summer as new manager Antonio Conte looks to put his own stamp on the club after the mixed reigns of Jose Mourinho and Guus Hiddink last season.


Conte, who won't begin work until after the conclusion of the Euros in July because of his duties with Italy, is expected to try and bring in several Italian or Serie A based players, as well as a number of his own trusted coaching staff.


The likes of Thibaut Courtois, Eden Hazard, Nemanja Matic, Willian and Diego Costa have all been linked with high profiles Stamford Bridge exits.

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