Chelsea: £150k-a-week star now 'likely' to leave Stamford Bridge

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By Caleb Sage

Published Jul 25, 2022

Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta is more likely to leave Stamford Bridge than one team-mate who is also being linked with a move to another club.

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - JULY 20: Thomas Tuchel, Manager of Chelsea looks on after the Pre-Season Friendly match between Chelsea FC and Charlotte FC at Bank of America Stadium on July 20, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)

Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta is more likely to join Barcelona than Marcos Alonso, says transfer insider Dean Jones.

The La Liga side are thought to be interested in the £250,000-a-week Blues duo, but Jones thinks their preference would be the former if they had to choose between the two.

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What is the latest news involving Azpilicueta and Alonso?

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel recently hinted that he may try and prevent Azpilicueta from joining Barcelona this summer.

"I am not sure if I want to give Azpi what he wants," the German was quoted as saying by Sky Sports when discussing his captain's potential move to the Camp Nou. "At some point it is about what we want."

Like with Azpilicueta, there has also been a lot of talk about Alonso leaving Chelsea for Barcelona this transfer window.

According to journalist Christian Falk, "final negotiations" over a transfer to Xavi's side for Alonso are set to be held soon.

What has Jones said about Azpilicueta, Alonso and Chelsea?

Out of the two, Jones thinks Azpilicueta is more likely to join Barcelona than Alonso.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT about the two Spaniards, the journalist said: "Ultimately, I think Azpilicueta might be the guy that Barcelona would prefer to sign. The likelihood is Azpi is the one who goes, and that's why you're getting those links."

Who could replace Azpilicueta and Alonso at Chelsea?

With regards to Alonso, Chelsea may already have a replacement for the 31-year-old in Emerson, who has returned to Stamford Bridge following his loan spell at Lyon last season.

Tuchel tried to bring the Italy international back to the club in the middle of that campaign after Ben Chilwell's injury and is a fan of the player.

"One of the possibilities and the players we know and that we love as a person is Emerson but we need to check," the Blues boss said heading into the 2022 January transfer window.

As for Azpilicueta, Sevilla's Jules Kounde seems to be the man the west London club want to replace their £150,000-a-week skipper with. However, they may have to consider someone else, with Barcelona in the process of hijacking their deal for the Frenchman.

That someone else could come in the form of Bayern Munich's Benjamin Pavard. According to L'Equipe (via The Sun), both Chelsea and Manchester United are interested in signing Kounde's international team-mate.

All in all, it looks like Chelsea could lose both Azpilicueta and Alonso this summer, and it will be interesting to see how Tuchel replaces the pair if they do go on to depart.