Chelsea ‘can’t say no’ as Barcelona duo offered in Cesar Azpilicueta swap talks – pundit
Frank McAvennie has claimed Chelsea “can’t say no” to letting Marcos Alonso and Cesar Azpilicueta leave the club this summer.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-West Ham striker said that the defensive pair would struggle to turn down a move to Barcelona.
As relayed by the Daily Mail last Thursday (7 July), new Chelsea owner Todd Boehly has been pictured arriving in Barcelona to try and thrash out a deal for Azpilicueta, 32, and Alonso, 31.
It is claimed that 21-year-old full-back Sergino Dest and 28-year-old forward Memphis Depay have been offered up as part of a potential four-player swap deal.
Azpilicueta and Alonso each have a year remaining on their contracts at Stamford Bridge.
McAvennie insisted that the Blues would be able to let the defenders leave this summer.
“The good thing about big clubs like Chelsea is that they can let players like that go,” he told Football Insider.
“If they want to go to Barcelona then they can afford to let them go. Chelsea are going to be disappointed but if Barcelona come calling they can’t really say no.
“They’ve been such good servants, both of them, to Chelsea. Going to finish their career at Barcelona is not a bad way to do things.
“They’ve been there for a while so Chelsea might want fresh legs in there anyway. It might be time to freshen things up.
“[Thomas] Tuchel is one of the elite managers so maybe Barcelona are just testing the water. But I can see these players playing at Barcelona, if it’s just paper talk I don’t know., but they’re good players.
“When you’re coming to the twilight of your career and Barcelona come calling, you want to put that shirt on and who wouldn’t?”
In other news, a pundit has suggested the “door has opened” for Jack Grealish after Man City transfer update via BBC.