Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has raised the possibility of blocking Cesar Azpilicueta's potential move to Barcelona despite the defender's demands.
It has been widely reported that the Spaniard wishes to make the move to the Camp Nou this summer for some time, after the Catalan side raised their interest in the 32-year-old towards the end of the 2021-22 campaign.
However, with Chelsea already losing Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen on free transfers during the transfer window, and with Marcos Alonso another potentially following in the footsteps of Christensen in making the move to Barca, Tuchel is refusing to sanction Azpilicueta's move on reduced terms.
The Chelsea captain has reportedly requested that the Blues accept a cut-price deal from Barca, who are struggling with financial issues once again this summer, but Tuchel is unwilling to agree to the move at this stage.
Speaking to Standard on Chelsea's pre-season training camp, the German boss said: "It's 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.
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"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. On September 1 when things calm down, then he can play on his highest level."
Following the potential fire sale of defensive players this summer, Chelsea have signed Napoli's Kalidou Koulibaly and remain on the verge of acquiring long-term target Jules Kounde from Sevilla.
A potential move for Manchester City's Nathan Ake fell through, however, whilst a move for Paris Saint-Germain's Presnel Kimpembe has also seemingly stalled as things stand.
Matthew Tranter
