---
title: "Barcelona linked with move for Chelsea star"
canonical: "https://readchelsea.com/2016/06/09/barcelona-linked-move-chelsea-star/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Ste Hoare"
section: "Chelsea News"
published: "2016-06-09T12:22:05Z"
modified: "2016-06-09T12:22:05Z"
---

# Barcelona linked with move for Chelsea star

Chelsea may face a battle to keep hold of full-back Cesar Azpilicueta after it was reported that he is on a list of targets that Barcelona manager Luis Enrique has drawn up as he looks for a replacement for the departing Dani Alves.

As reported by Matt Law of [The Telegraph](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/06/09/chelsea-face-fight-to-keep-cesar-azpilicueta/), Azpilicueta is on a short-list that also includes names such as Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin.

Despite often playing on the left for Chelsea, Azpilicueta is equally capable of playing as a right-back and his versatility could also be a factor in Barca’s interest.

![David Ramos/Getty Images Sport](https://cdn.readeverything.co/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/538409274.jpg)

Similarly to Bellerin at Arsenal, Azpilicueta is under contract at Stamford Bridge until 2019 so Chelsea will be in no rush to sell him, especially as he was one of the more consistent players in a poor 2015/16 campaign.

One possible avenue for an exit is that incoming boss Antonio Conte tends to favour playing a 3-5-2 formation, so he could let Azpilicueta leave if he doesn’t think he suits a wing-back role, although there’s nothing in the Spaniard’s game that suggests he’d be poor playing as a wing-back.