Blues issue Barca Cesar ultimatum
CHELSEA’S desire to recoup the £7million they paid for captain Cesar Azpilicueta has stalled talks with Barcelona.
The 32-year-old has already been offered a lucrative two-year contract with the Spanish club, but they are struggling to pay a fee.
Chelsea owner Todd Boehly held face-to-face talks last week with Barca president Joan Laporta as they went over a number of prospective deals.
Barcelona have already offered contracts to Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso in the hope that they would be allowed to leave free of charge or for nominal fees.
However, Chelsea see no need to give assets away especially as high fees are being demanded for their own targets.
Azpilicueta, who is in Los Angeles with the rest of the Chelsea squad, cost £7m when he joined from Marseille in 2012 and has gone on to win every major trophy with the club.
Chelsea, who will need a replacement full back, are understood to have asked about Barcelona’s Sergino Dest as part of talks last week but discussions are yet to advance.
Boehly also expects an answer on Leeds winger Raphinha this week, with Barcelona still trying to beat Chelsea to his signing.
Barca improved their offer to £50m including add-ons last week but that still falls short of the £55m plus add-ons bid that Chelsea had accepted for the Brazilian over a week ago.
Raphinha has not joined Leeds’ tour to Australia in the hope of finalising his transfer.
One signing that will be confirmed is Raheem Sterling.
The 27-year-old England international had a medical at Chelsea last night ahead of his £47.5m move from the Etihad Stadium to Stamford Bridge.
The deal can rise to £50m with add- ons and Sterling will sign a five- year contract worth over £310,000 a week.
Talks are ongoing between Chelsea and City over a £45m move for Nathan Ake — but City have said they want to secure a replacement before agreeing to anything.
Chelsea face disappointment in their pursuit of Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt, with Bayern Munich sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic travelling to Turin today to discuss a deal.