Earlier this week, Spanish heavyweights Barcelona officially unveiled former Athletic Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde as the new boss at Nou Camp to replace Luis Enrique.
Barca couldn’t win the La Liga title this season and were humiliated out of the Champions League by Juventus. Obviously, Valverde desire turning things around next season, and he needs to utilise the summer transfer window.
According to news coming from Spain, the new boss is keen to bolster his options at right-back as Aleix Vidal’s future remains uncertain.
Spanish sports outlet Sport made it known that initially, Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin was Barcelona’s priority target in that position. However, following Ernesto’s arrival, the Camp Nou club have stepped up their interest in Chelsea’s Azpilicueta.
Valverde is said to have been monitoring Azpilicueta even when he was still boss at Bilbao, and had made an attempt to sign the player for his former side.
Sport also added that Barcelona are already in talks over a deal to bring the player to Nou Camp this summer. Chelsea are expected to demand around £26m for him (which is much cheaper than Bellerin’s)
However, Barcelona are not the only ones interested in him – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is also said to be interested in the player. Nevertheless, Barcelona are favourites to get him as Chelsea would rather sell him to Spain rather than to a Premier League rival.
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