Barcelona are closing in on Andreas Christensen with the Chelsea defender said to be ‘one step away’ from a free transfer move to the Spanish side.
Christensen is out of contract at the end of the season and has been free to negotiate with foreign sides since January, with Barcelona and Bayern Munich among the clubs interested in signing the centre-back.
Chelsea had been keen to tie Christensen down to a new deal and Thomas Tuchel had suggested a new contract was close to being agreed earlier in the season, though there has been no further news on an extension and Sport are reporting that Barcelona are close to finalising a deal.
The Catalan side are targeting free agents during the summer as the club look to rebuild despite their financial issues, with the report stating that Christensen will sign a four-year deal to move to the Camp Nou.
The 25-year-old had been a target for Barcelona two seasons ago, but Chelsea blocked a loan approach.
Christensen has developed into an important figure under Tuchel and has made 22 appearances in all competitions for the west Londoners this season.
He is one of several defensive stars out of contract at Chelsea this summer, with both Antonio Rudiger and Cesar Azpilicueta also approaching free agency – the latter also thought to be a target for Barcelona.
Barcelona are also believed to be targeting a free transfer deal for AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie, with the Ivory Coast international having been a transfer target for a number of Premier League clubs.
