CESAR AZPILICUETA is set to hold talks with Chelsea next week over his future.
The club captain wants to leave but does not want to submit a transfer request out of respect to the club he has served for ten years.
Cesar Azpilicueta is set to hold talks with Chelsea next week over his future
Defender Azpilicueta, 32, is currently away on Nations League duty with Spain who play their final game on Sunday.
Barcelona are keen to sign the veteran right back but are reluctant to pay a transfer fee even though the player has 12 months left on his contract.
Boss Thomas Tuchel has hinted that Chelsea’s longest serving player could be allowed to leave for nothing as a reward for his loyalty and key part in bringing huge success to the club.
Azpilicueta has won every club trophy possible since joining from Marseille in the wake of Chelsea’s 2012 Champions League win.
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Chelsea are under new ownership with American tycoon Todd Boehly heading a consortium of investors who have purchased the club for £4.25 billion.
They are now eager to press on with signing new players and ushering in a new era with Russian Roman Abramovich now gone.
Azpilicueta is not the only defender keen to move on in what is shaping up to be a landmark summer for Chelsea.
Centre back Antonio Rudiger has joined Real Madrid.
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Andreas Christensen’s contract has expired and he is poised to join Barcelona.
Meanwhile Azpilicueta’s fellow Spaniard Marcos Alonso has gone public with his desire to return home if possible,
Chelsea are due back for pre-season training on July 2 and soon after they depart for a tour of the US.
Marcos Alonso and Cesar Azpilicueta are both linked with Barcelona
