Andreas Christensen has been linked with Barcelona multiple times over the past few years, the rumors ebbing and flowing in an inverse relationship with his Chelsea prospects. When he was impressing on loan at Borussia Monchengladbach, the tide was rising. When he was impressing back at Chelsea, the seas calmed and everything was sunny and happy.
Alas, Christensen’s situation has significantly worsened in 2018, which he started as a first-choice player under Conte and is ending as a backup under Sarri. Unsurprisingly, the Barcelona rumors are starting to come back in.
According to Catalan newspaper Sport, the Blaugrana are looking for a backup to centre back Samuel Umtiti, whose may be set to miss several months due to a recurring knee problem that might require surgery. While Barca’s main target is apparently Ajax sensation Matthijs de Ligt, one of the secondary targets is the unhappy Christensen.
#FCB | El Barça se fija en Christensen si Umtiti visita el quirófano https://t.co/dkktbnleaJ pic.twitter.com/i1m2PnOuZG
— Diario SPORT (@sport) November 29, 2018
Barcelona are said to be optimistic about their chances of acquiring the 22-year-old, despite Chelsea’s reluctance to let him leave and the 3.5 years left on his contract. Christensen’s camp has been making a lot of noise about his situation however, and it would not be too surprising if he tried to force a move. Other teams said to be interested in him include Borussia Mönchengladbach and AC Milan.
Christensen has been playing (semi-)regularly for Chelsea, but only in the non-Premier League competitions. Perhaps with the upcoming busy schedule, that will change, and we won’t have to worry about him leaving in January or at the end of the season.