Barcelona president Joan Laporta has refused to reveal whether his club are attempting to sign Chelsea duo Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso during this summer's transfer window.
The Catalan giants have already brought in Andreas Christensen on a free transfer from Chelsea this summer, while Franck Kessie, Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski and Jules Kounde have also joined the club.
Barcelona continue to be linked with further additions, though, with the club said to be interested in signing both Azpilicueta and Alonso before the deadline.
Laporta branded the duo "very, very good players" when questioned, but he was not prepared to confirm the club's interest in the Spanish defenders.
"They are under contract at Chelsea and we respect this as well as the new owner. I don't want to talk about players who belong to other teams. I respect Cesar and Marcos as footballers," Laporta told CBS Sports.
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"They are very, very good players. They show their quality and talent at Chelsea. But I don't want to talk about them as a matter of respect for Chelsea."
A recent report claimed that Barcelona were still intending to sign Azpilicueta this summer despite further boosting their defensive options by bringing in Kounde from Sevilla.
Azpilicueta featured on 47 occasions in all competitions for Chelsea during the 2021-22 campaign, providing three goals and three assists, with 27 of his outings coming in the Premier League.
However, his contract at Stamford Bridge is due to expire next summer, and the versatile defender is said to be pushing for a return to Spain.
Azpilicueta, who played for Osasuna ahead of a switch to Marseille, has made 474 appearances for the Blues since arriving in 2012, contributing 17 goals and 55 assists in the process.
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Alonso, meanwhile, is said to be viewed by Barcelona as the ideal player to provide competition and back-up for Jordi Alba in the left-back next season.
The 31-year-old benefitted from Ben Chilwell's absence through injury to feature on a regular basis for Chelsea during the 2021-22 campaign, playing 46 times in all competitions.
Meanwhile, he has now made 211 appearances for the Blues since his arrival from Fiorentina in 2016, contributing 29 goals and 23 assists in the process.
The former Real Madrid youngster, also out of contract next summer, recently revealed a desire to return to Spain despite insisting that he was still "happy" at Stamford Bridge.
"On paper, I have a contract for one more year and that is where we're at today. I've already said that I would like to play in Spain again, but it doesn't depend entirely on me," he told reporters.
"I can't complain about anything at Chelsea, but the desire to play in Spain is there. It doesn't depend entirely on me and I'm happy at Chelsea, honestly."
Barcelona's summer incomings will see a number of players leave before the end of the window, with Gerard Pique, Oscar Mingueza, Samuel Umtiti, Riqui Puig, Memphis Depay and Martin Braithwaite among those linked with exits.
Matt Law
