Player’s contract renewal has become ‘main topic’ at Chelsea – ‘Cannot afford’ to let ‘essential’ player depart

Cesar Azpilicueta’s contract situation has become the ‘main topic’ at Chelsea, with them keen to keep him at the club long-term.

That’s according to AS, who say the Spanish defender has ‘earned his place’ as a Blue beyond next summer.

Azpilicueta is out of contract in 2022, at which point he will be 32-years-old and will have spent ten years at Stamford Bridge.

That could have seen him moving on, perhaps in a return to Spain, but AS say there is no appetite for that to happen.

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They state that because Azpilicueta has been ‘at the top level’ for several years now, he has ‘earned a renewal’ and reports in England have stated that Petr Cech and Marina Granovskaia ‘cannot afford’ to let him go.

His renewal has ‘become a matter of state’, with the Chelsea captain proving his worth, particularly since the arrival of Thomas Tuchel.

He’s an ‘essential’ part of the German’s defensive set up, and it’s felt his ‘leadership and his experience’ will be essential in the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid.

That is why they are keen to renew, with Azpilicueta having been ‘one of the best’ signings in their history, racking up 420 appearances so far.

All of this means he has ‘earned’ himself a new deal and a longer stay when he is likely to remain ‘essential’, as he has been for several years.