Barcelona targeting summer move for Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta

Spanish giants Barcelona are targeting a surprise move for Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta, according to Spanish media outlet Sport (via The Daily Star).

The 27-year-old has been a stalwart in the Blues backline ever since his £7 million move from Marseille back in 2012, playing 225 times for the West London outfit since then, and winning four major trophies.

In fact, the Spain international played every minute of Chelsea’s 38 league games this term, and only missed one last time round to underline his incredible consistency and high-level at the back for Antonio Conte’s side.

Thus, it’s hardly surprising, given his excellent displays over the last few years, that Azpilicueta is attracting interest from another of Europe’s biggest clubs, notably Ernesto Valverde’s Barcelona.

The former Athletic Bilbao boss only took over at the Nou Camp on Monday but appears to already be scouting around the transfer market to improve the Catalans, given that they will end this season with neither the La Liga title or the Champions League crown for only the second time since 2008.

And Chelsea’s Azpilicueta is one man on that list, and the wheels are believed to be in motion with reports suggesting that Barcelona technical secretary Robert Fernandez has already began talks about a deal for the 27-year-old.

It very much remains to be seen if Barcelona do indeed get a deal done for Azpilicueta this summer, yet if they do, it would be a big blow to Conte and Chelsea ahead of their title defence and Champions League campaign next season.