Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta could reportedly see his contract extended at Stamford Bridge by a new ownership.
The £150,000-a-week defender has been expected to leave the Blues after a 10-year service when his contract expires at the end of the season. However, there is now a chance the 32-year-old remains another year.
According to 90min, Azpilicueta is “hopeful” that he’ll complete a move to Spanish giants Barcelona on a free transfer this summer.
It is understood the La Liga club want to sign him but there may now be a complication.
The report explains Chelsea have the option to extend Azpilicueta’s current deal a further year to keep him at the club until 2023, albeit the player himself hopes the club waive the clause to allow him a dream transfer to Camp Nou.
90min says that new Chelsea buyers could end up triggering the contract extension, though.
Blues supporters are still waiting to hear who completes a takeover of Chelsea, with current owner Roman Abramovich looking to sell under the sanctions of the UK government.
A consortium led by Todd Boehly and Jonathan Goldstein are reportedly the frontrunners to become the club’s new owner.
Chelsea may need Azpilicueta
In fairness, Azpilicueta deserves to go out on his own terms given how brilliant he’s been during a decade at Chelsea.
He’s won it all as a Blues defender and been the perfect role model with his professionalism, work rate and leadership.
However, Thomas Tuchel’s squad could be very thin on the ground if he exits.
Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen are strongly linked with departures when their respective deals expire at the end of the season, so losing Azpilicueta alongside them could be catastrophic.
If Chelsea do trigger a clause in Azpilicueta’s deal, perhaps Tuchel can convince him to be happy with an extra year in West London.
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