Barcelona want to sign Chelsea defender next summer

Barcelona sporting director Eric Abidal is keen on acquiring the services of defender Andreas Christensen from Chelsea when the season comes to a close.

The Blaugrana have overly depended on Gerard Pique and Clement Lenglet for the central defensive duties this term with Samuel Umtiti struggling with knee issues while Jean-Clair Todibo has failed to settle with the club.

As a result, manager Ernesto Valverde has been left concerned with the depth at the heart of the backline with Pique and Lenglet barely getting the chance to be rested.

According to Mundo Deportivo, the Blaugrana are unlikely to solve the concern at the midway stage of the season and they will wait until the summer to bolster the position.

Furthermore, Abidal has earmarked Christensen as the prime target and the Blaugrana could be prepared to lure him to the Camp Nou with the assurance of a starting spot.

Christensen has not featured for the Blues since September due to a hamstring injury but he did make the bench for the Crystal Palace clash before the international break.

The Dane is currently behind Fikayo Tomori and Kurt Zouma in the pecking order and his prospects of gametime seem limited in the long run with Antonio Rudiger expected to command a starting role when fit.