Topics: Transfer, Barcelona, Chelsea, Andreas Christensen
The Blues are set to lose one of their key men at the back to the La Liga giants this summer.

Barcelona have received a major boost in their pursuit of Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen. A report that emerged on Friday night revealed that the Blues have conceded defeat in their bid to get the center-back to sign a new deal and a purported move to Camp Nou is said to be a matter of time.

Christensen signed for the Chelsea at the age of 15 in 2012 and after has since made a little over 150 senior appearances for the club following a number of loans spells. With the 25-year-old's contract set to expire in the summer, he has been linked with a move away from the Stamford Bridge, amid interest from a number of clubs in England and across Europe.

Recent reports indicated that the Danish international had no intention of signing a new deal with Thomas Tuchel's side having failed to nail down a place a regular in the side. Barcelona, who have been monitoring the player's situation, have been in talks with him to secure his service, with Xavi said to have personally reached out to the center-back. On Friday, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano stated that the player will not join another Premier League club out of respect for Chelsea.

Sky Sports' Florian Plettenberg subsequently added that Camp Nou now seems to be Christensen's his most likely destination although Bayern Munich have also reportedly joined in the pursuit for his signature. The latter are keen to replace the outgoing Niklas Sule who has already agreed terms to join Borussia Dortmund at the end of the season.