Chelsea have moved to block the summer transfer of Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso to Barcelona after the Catalan club snatched Jules Kounde from under their noses.
The Blues are bitter over Barcelona’s conduct in the transfer window and want to block their attempt to sign any of their players this summer.
Barcelona want to sign both Alonso and Azpilicueta this summer and have reportedly agreed on personal terms with both layers. But following Barca’s £55million swoop for Sevilla defender Kounde, even after Chelsea had seen their offer accepted, the Blues are now reluctant to allow the duo to complete their desired move to the Nou Camp.
Thomas Tuchel’s side were the front runners for the signature of Kounde and had an agreement in place to bring the Frenchman to Stamford bridge. But a late push from Barcelona turned the deal on its head, with Kounde now expected to sign for Barcelona.
Although the player’s preferences to join Barcelona also influenced the deal and the club even briefly had his shirt name available for purchase on their online store. It was quickly deleted, though.
The same thing happened with former Leeds player Raphinha who reportedly was set to sign for Chelsea after Leeds had accepted the Blues’ offer. But again, Barca, who had always been the preferred destination of the Brazilian, swooped late to snatch Raphinha from Barcelona.
Earlier this summer, the Nou Camp side snatched Andreas Christensen for free from Chelsea despite their desire to keep the Danish player.
According to Spanish newspaper Diario Sport via Sportsmail, this series of events has now reportedly infuriated Chelsea, who are now desperate not to allow defenders Alonso and Azpilicueta to join. The newspaper report that tensions between the two clubs have increased following the Kounde deal.
However, Chelsea have managed to sign Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly this summer to reinforce their defence. The former Napoli man was initially linked with Barcelona but chose the Blues over the Blaugrana.
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel had already strongly suggested that Barcelona’s move for Azpilicueta may be blocked.
Asked at a press conference ahead of their 4-0 defeat by Arsenal whether he was annoyed by Barcelona’s approach, Tuchel said:
“Maybe a little bit.”
“It is a tough question because I am not sure if I want to give Azpi what he wants.
“At some point, it is about what we want. I just made the comparison about how much we fought for Koulibaly, who is a national team player and roughly the same age.
“He is a hugely important player for Napoli, but we have a Spanish international who is the captain at Chelsea. I see him maybe at the same level, but Barcelona don’t see him on that level.
“So I am not sure if I want to give him what he wants as he is a huge player.
“We don’t think so much about other clubs. The focus is on us and what we need. I said that to him and I say it to you that I understand on a personal and a career level.
“But I am not only in this role to give him what he wants. I am a manager for Chelsea who wants to do what’s best for Chelsea.
“He doesn’t like it, but he understands. It is tough for him because the other club is permanently on him.”
