Tuchel wanted Christensen to stay at Chelsea as he signs for Barcelona

Thomas Tuchel admits he wanted Andreas Christensen to stay and become a ‘huge player’ for Chelsea as Danish defender prepares to join Barcelona this summer on a free transfer when his contract expires

Andreas Christensen is set to sign for Barcelona when his Chelsea deal expires
Danish defender reportedly completed his medical with them earlier this week
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel admitted he wanted Christensen to stay
Tuchel believed the defender could step up and become a senior player

Thomas Tuchel has admitted Andreas Christensen is likely to leave Chelsea this summer despite his best efforts to convince the defender he could be a ‘huge player’ for the club.

The Denmark international is reportedly set to complete formalities on a move to Barcelona this week after a decade with the Stamford Bridge club.

The 25-year-old initially joined Chelsea’s academy from Brondby in 2012 and has played 153 matches for the club either side of two seasons on loan at Borussia Monchengladbach.

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has admitted he wanted Andreas Christensen to stay at the club beyond the summer but the defender is set to sign for Barcelona

Christensen reportedly completed his medical this week ahead of moving to Barcelona

But Tuchel is planning for life without Christensen in his defence next season, even if he intends to make full use of him in the remaining weeks of this campaign.

Asked about whether Christensen will commit to a new Chelsea deal, Tuchel said: ‘It’s in doubt, no? We hear the rumours and the situation with Andreas, since many weeks, is clear and we are not happy about it.

‘Me personally and the club representatives think it is best for him to stay and we rely heavily on him.

‘The communication from his side is that he has not signed and we have to consider that he might leave it. Do we like it? No. Will we live with it? Yeah.’

Chelsea head to Carrow Road to play Norwich City on Thursday night as they aim to shore up their place in the Premier League top four.

Tuchel said he plans to make full use of the defender in his side before he departs

Chelsea fixtures

Premier League unless stated

Thursday Norwich City (A)

Sunday Newcastle United (H)

March 16 Lille (A)

Champions League last-16, second leg

March 19 Middlesbrough (A)

FA Cup quarter-final

April 2 Brentford (H)

April 9 Southampton (A)

The Blues are set to play Middlesbrough in the FA Cup quarter-finals and will take a two-goal lead to France for the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie with Lille.

Asked whether Christensen’s imminent departure will impact on whether he is selected for the rest of the season, Tuchel added: ‘I don’t think so.

‘If things like this happen then he is still our player and we will do what is best for us until his contract ends. He knows we appreciate him a lot.

‘He has the chance, in the perfect age and moment and the system we play, given all these circumstances, it is for me the decisive moment for him to step up and be a huge Chelsea player for the next years.

‘If he decides otherwise, I will not take it personally.’

Christensen’s contract is set to expire at the end of the summer and he has rebuffed offers of a new deal to move abroad.

Barcelona-based newspaper Diario Sport reported that Christensen completed his medical with Barcelona on Monday ahead of what will be a free transfer.

He will agree to a five-year contract worth around £5million-per-season at the Nou Camp.

Barcelona successfully outbid Bayern Munich for the player.