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Hansi Flick's eagerness to keep Andreas Christensen has led Barcelona to offer the injury-plagued center back a contract extension, though their initial proposal has reportedly been rejected by the Danish defender.
Christensen arrived at the club on a free transfer from Chelsea in 2022, but has faced persistent fitness issues over the last few years. The Danish international featured 23 times as Barça secured La Liga glory under Xavi Hernández in his debut season, before making 30 league appearances in 2023–24.
However, the defender has since been hampered by a serious Achilles injury and, more recently, a partial ACL tear. Christensen has been absent from the Blaugrana's lineup since Christmas as a result, yet Flick continues to hold the 30-year-old in high esteem.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Barça have presented Christensen with a one-year contract extension at a substantially reduced salary, with the possibility of a second season should certain performance-related clauses be fulfilled.
While Christensen has communicated to club officials that he wants to remain in Catalonia, the defender appears to have rejected Barcelona's opening offer following months of talks.
Barcelona Happy to Retain Christensen Under Certain Conditions—Report
Barcelona are expected to make the center back position a priority in the summer transfer window, with Micky van de Ven, Alessandro Bastoni and Luka Vušković among the left-sided candidates being considered.
The club chose not to replace Iñigo Martínez last summer, but Flick has effectively deployed Gerard Martín at the center of his defense alongside fellow academy product Pau Cubarsí for the La Liga champions-elect this campaign.
Christensen, coming off two serious injuries, may not appear to be the perfect fit for the German coach's high-intensity system, but the Barcelona manager has seemingly persuaded the club to hold onto the Dane.
Barcelona will reportedly only retain Christensen if he accepts a substantial wage reduction. The center back is believed to be earning in excess of $200,000 per week, yet despite this, he does not rank among the club's 13 highest-paid players given their enormous wage bill.
Widespread Interest Across Europe for Impending Free Agent
Christensen is reportedly making Barça his top priority, having been eligible to speak with other clubs since January, but interest is beginning to build across Europe despite the defender's recent injury struggles.
Mundo Deportivo's report notes that clubs from the Premier League, Serie A, Bundesliga and even La Liga rivals are starting to show interest. The specific clubs involved remain unidentified, but Christensen could be swayed by attractive offers from elsewhere on the continent.
The 30-year-old has spent the last four years of his career in Spain, having previously made 93 Premier League appearances for Chelsea and enjoyed two loan spells at Borussia Mönchengladbach in Germany.
Italy could offer Christensen a new challenge, as financially constrained Serie A clubs look to free transfers and cut-price deals to strengthen their rosters.