‘Very high’: Tuchel now thinks £150k-a-week Chelsea player will stay next season

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Thomas Tuchel thinks there’s a “very high possibility” that Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta stays at Stamford Bridge next season.

Azpilicueta, whose contract was due to expire in the summer, has recently had an extra year added to his £150,000-a-week deal due to the amount of appearances he’s made this campaign.

The 32-year-old has triggered a one-year extension to his contract with the Blues, something Tuchel’s now confirmed.

He’s the club captain that’s played 35 games across all competitions so far this season, so his new deal at the Bridge expires in 2023.

The Spanish defender reportedly wants to see his time out with Chelsea in the correct way, despite a desire to join interested suitors Barcelona.

Chelsea manager Tuchel seemed fairly confident in Friday’s press conference that Azpilicueta will still be at the club next season:

“I knew it was going to happen because I knew the amount of games before it was going to happen. It was so close. It’s a good thing, we were aware of it. It’s good news for us. We have a contract, he’s our captain, it’s a very high possibility he will stay,” Tuchel said.

“Well, I knew all the time that this is very likely to happen because he is a regular starter with us. I knew the number of games we needed to make him stay, to ensure his contract continued or extended. That’s why I am very happy. You know how much I rely on him and how much impact he has in this group and this club. It’s very good news for us.”

Superb Chelsea news

Finally, a bit of positive news when it comes to the futures of players.

With the current sanctions on the club banning contract talks, it’s great to hear a positive update during a time of so much uncertainty.

The terms for Azpilicueta’s extension were agreed well before a sanction, which is why it’s now gone through.

It’s unclear on where some of the team’s other defenders will be playing next season, but keeping the experience of Azpilicueta for another year will be so crucial and a real assurance for Tuchel.

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