Top 5 possible destinations for Andreas Christensen
Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen seems increasingly likely to leave the club at the end of the month upon the expiry of his contract.
His current deal at Stamford Bridge expires at the end of this month. The club earlier believed they had struck an agreement with the Denmark international last summer but a change in demands, and recently a switch in agents, has seen his future become doubtful.
Now with just over four weeks remaining for Chelsea to find a solution some of Europe’s biggest clubs unsurprisingly have started circling around him who are enticed by the opportunity to secure a top-class defender without having to pay a transfer fee.
Here is the list of top five football clubs that can land Andreas Christensen, if Chelsea fails to renew his contract –
#1 Barcelona
Barcelona would be looking to replace Pique and Umtiti this season
Barcelona is open to the prospect of signing the Danish centre-back on a free transfer as they look to rebuild. The Spanish side has around five central defenders at the moment however, none of them has been convincing so far.
Academy star Ronald Araujo has shown glimpses of talent but apart from him Eric Garcia, Clement Lenglet, Samuel Umtiti and Gerard Pique all have been pretty unconvincing. Thus, bringing in a young yet extremely experienced centre-back on a free transfer reportedly has been discussed and as per rumours, they have already contacted the player’s agent as well.
Although the club’s financial situation is no longer as bleak as it was last summer, big-money signings are still unlikely at Camp Nou in the near future forcing them to focus instead on players available for free. And with Gerard Pique in the twilight of his career, the arrival of the centre-back from London will solidify their defence.
Barcelona has reportedly held a long-term interest in the defender and at this stage, Christensen’s free signing would be perfect for a club that is highly cash strapped.
#2 Bayern Munich
The German champions also have reportedly entered the race to sign the 26-year-old defender as per reports. Bayern Munich is on the lookout for candidates to replace defender Niklas Sule who will leave the club as a free agent this summer.
Christensen has established himself as a top defender in recent years and has taken his performances up a notch under Tuchel. He has formed an excellent partnership with Antonio Rudiger whenever called upon and is a key player in the Blues’ efforts to dominate English and European football.
The club reportedly have been alerted by the Chelsea defender’s situation. Christensen, who has had a good experience of Bundesliga with Gladbach earlier, could be a cheap yet experienced replacement for Sule.
#3 Juventus
Christensen could be a long-term replacement for Chiellini and Bonucci
Reports in England have suggested that Juventus view Christensen as a long-term replacement for 37-year-old Giorgio Chiellini and 34-year-old Leonardo Bonucci. The Turin-based side was recently knocked out by a determined Villarreal in the Champions League, despite having quality defenders such as Matthijs de Ligt and Daniel Rugani losing the second leg miserably with a score of 3-0 at home.
The Serie A giants are offering him a four-year contract which will keep him at the club until 2026. He will earn around £5.4m per season as reported by the same daily. Meanwhile, the Danish would not require much time to settle in Italy as he will get the help of his former Blues mate Juan Cuadrado to settle down at Allianz Stadium.
#4 Manchester United
Manchester United have had a pretty average defensive record this season, despite signing Raphael Varane. Ralf Rangnick’s side has conceded 57 goals in 38 games this term – the second-highest tally in the top 10 of the Premier League – while doubts remain over incumbent centre-backs such as Harry Maguire, Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof.
The arrival of Andreas Christensen, who now has almost five years of Premier League experience, will further bolster their squad. He can be a useful replacement for Harry Maguire, who has seen his position and status in the team – as well as his long-term future at the club – come under scrutiny this season.
#5 Paris Saint-Germain
The Dane desires a significantly higher wage slip than what he is earning right now along with the urge of winning more titles, and if there’s one club that has deep enough pockets to pay that and also guarantee trophies each season, then it’s PSG. According to a report, the French side’s sporting director, Leonardo, is eagerly awaiting the summer transfer window to sign the central defender. He intends to pounce on his target and sign him on a free transfer.
PSG made impressive defensive signings last summer in Sergio Ramos, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Achraf Hakimi. They already have players such as Marquinhos, Presnel Kimpembe, and others who make their defence solid. But, despite all these factors, PSG lost to Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, in a tie which they should have sealed.
Thus, Christensen could be the answer to their defensive problems and can form a formidable partnership with Marquinhos and give them a shot at the Champions League title.