£250k-a-week duo ‘want to leave’ Stamford Bridge

Chelsea duo Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso both want to leave Stamford Bridge before the transfer window closes, says journalist Dean Jones.

The two Spaniards look set to start the new season as Blues players, but Jones has told GIVEMESPORT that they wish to depart west London amid interest from Barcelona.

What is the latest news involving Azpilicueta and Alonso?

According to SPORT, Barcelona actually want to sign £150,000-a-week Azpilicueta and £100,000-a-week Alonso before Chelsea kick off their 2022/23 Premier League campaign against Everton on Saturday.

However, the same outlet has stated that the Blues’ failure to bring in replacements is causing problems.

Chelsea are already light in defence following the departures of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen, so it is no surprise that Thomas Tuchel is reluctant to let Azpilicueta go.

Ben Chilwell has also just come back from a serious injury and will need time to get back to his best again, so that explains why the German is not pushing Alonso to the exit door either, though that could change if Brighton’s Marc Cucurella arrives.

The 31-year-old has played 59 games under Tuchel and started in Chelsea’s recent 3-1 pre-season win against Udinese, so it is clear that the former Paris Saint-Germain manager prefers him over Emerson, the Blues’ third-choice left wing-back.

What has Jones said about Azpilicueta, Alonso and Chelsea?

Jones thinks Chelsea have such an unsettled squad right now due to the likes of Azpilicueta and Alonso wanting to leave the club.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the transfer insider said: “He’s got problems at the back because Alonso and Azpilicueta want to leave and then up front, you’ve got that issue, too.

“It’s just such an unsettled squad at the moment, and that’s one of the reasons why Tuchel’s been so frustrated going into the season.”

Will Azpilicueta and Alonso both start against Everton?

It is certainly a possibility. As already mentioned, Chelsea, who obviously use a three-man defence under Tuchel, do not have enough proven centre-back options right now.

Considering that, Azpilicueta, who has more experience than the likes of Trevoh Chalobah and Malang Sarr, will probably start alongside new signing Kalidou Koulibaly and Thiago Silva if Barcelona cannot convince Chelsea to sell him before that clash at Goodison Park.

As for Alonso, again, with Chilwell still needing to find full match fitness and sharpness after his anterior cruciate ligament injury, there is a good chance that he could also be named in Tuchel’s starting XI for the game against Frank Lampard’s men.

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