Chelsea Defenders Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso Could Leave Chelsea for Barcelona

• Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso are ready to leave Chelsea this summer to join Spanish giants Barcelona
• The duo are nearing the end of their contracts and are excited with the prospect of returning to their home country and playing for Barca legend Xavi Hernandez
• The exits could leave Thomas Tuchel with only five senior defenders with Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen also set to depart

Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso want to quit this summer as Barcelona chase their signatures. Both players are nearing the end of their contracts and are intrigued by the prospect of playing for Barcelona.

The outgoing European champions continued to be mired in ownership controversy. The Blues cannot enter into contract negotiation talks or buy any player.

Barcelona is understood to be ready to pounce on the uncertainty to bring the Spanish internationals to Camp Nou. Azpilicueta’s deal will have problems due to his deep-seated loyalty to the club.

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The Daily Mail understands that Azpilicueta is not ready to force a move away. He has been a Chelsea player since 2012 and was made captain after Gary Cahill left the club.

Azpilicueta has won everything at Chelsea

Azpilicueta has won everything English club football has to offer. He recently led the club to UEFA Champions League glory before guiding them to the subsequent UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup.

He was also part of the team that won the Premier League in 2017 and the FA Cup in 2018. Alonso joined the club in 2016

The planned exit of the two defenders complicates issues for Thomas Tuchel. Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen are already set to leave at the end of the season. Chelsea will remain with the ageing Thiago Silva, Reece James, Malang Sarr, Ben Chilwell and Trevoh Chalobah as its only senior defenders.

Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernandez is rebuilding his side. He has already acquired attackers Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Ferran Torres and Adama Torres on loan. It is understood he is also angling for Robert Lewandowski’s signature from Bayern Munich.

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Kounde and Fofana possible replacements

Sports Brief had earlier reported on all the options Thomas Tuchel has as he seeks to build his defence from scratch next season.

Tuchel has been a long-time admirer of Sevilla’s Jules Kounde. The German coach is also interested in Villareal’s Pau Torres.

Leicester City’s Wesley Fofana and RB Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol are also on the Blues shortlist.