Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta has "made it clear" to Thomas Tuchel and Todd Boehly that he wants to join Barcelona this summer, says CBS reporter Ben Jacobs.
The 32-year-old is believed to be a target for the La Liga outfit, who have already signed his former Blues team-mate Andreas Christensen.
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What is the latest news involving Azpilicueta?
As per SPORT, Azpilicueta should get his move to Barcelona this transfer window and it could be finalised soon.
According to the same outlet, what has been holding up the Spaniard's switch to the Camp Nou is Chelsea's search for a replacement.
The west London club recently signed Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli in a £33m deal, but the Senegal international arrives to replace either Christensen or Antonio Rudiger in the squad.
Should Azpilicueta also depart to Spain like the former Blues duo, it is clear that Tuchel will need another body to fill his spot.
What has Jacobs said about Azpilicueta and Chelsea?
Jacobs has told GIVEMESPORT that Azpilicueta has informed both Tuchel and Chelsea co-owner Boehly that he wants a move to Barcelona this summer.
Speaking to GMS, the CBS reporter said: "Cesar Azpilicueta has been a model professional. He’s waited patiently as Chelsea and Barcelona negotiate. Chelsea want a seven million fee - the same amount they paid for him in 2012 when he joined from Marseille.
"Azpilicueta is training with Chelsea in America currently but has made it clear to Boehly and Tuchel he does want the move."
Who could replace Azpilicueta at Stamford Bridge?
With Koulibaly snapped up, Chelsea now seem to be focusing on completing deals for Paris Saint-Germain's Presnel Kimpembe and Sevilla's Jules Kounde.
The Daily Mail recently reported that the Blues have made a £40m bid for the former and are in talks with Sevilla to sign the latter.
Since Kimpembe is left-footed, you would expect him to come in and play on the left, leaving Kounde to take up Azpilicueta's right centre-back spot in Tuchel's three-man defence. In an ideal world, that is probably what the German would want.
However, ironically, Barcelona are also believed to be chasing Kounde, so there is no guarantee that the France international will end up at Stamford Bridge this summer.
At this moment in time, though, he seems to be the man Chelsea have identified to replace their £150,000-a-week captain should he return to Spain before the transfer window closes.