Atletico Madrid beat Inter Milan to the signing of Chelsea star Cesar Azpilicueta. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Chelsea are set to terminate the contract of club captain and right-back Cesar Azpilicueta, who is close to joining Inter Milan in the summer transfer window.
According to Fabrizio Romano, (h/t Express), Chelsea will let the 33-year-old join Inter Milan for free after dissolving his current deal. It only appears to be a matter of time before the Spaniard officially leaves the club.
The West Londoners have sold many players to reduce their payroll costs. Lowering the wage bill while also raking in transfer fees will be rucial when we make moves of our own.
Now that the Spanish right-back is among those who will leave the club for free, contract termination work is underway, which is likely to be mutual in nature.
The right-back has already agreed personal terms to join Inter Milan and is expected to sign a two-year contract with the Serie A club. Azpilicueta merits a proper send-off after contributing everything he had done for the Blues.
More player sales from Chelsea are anticipated, as the likes of Kai Havertz and Mateo Kovacic are closing in on moves to Arsenal and Manchester City, respectively.
Hakim Ziyech, and Edouard Mendy are expected to join Saudi clubs while Kalidou Koulibaly has joined Al-Hilal. Mason Mount could also leave, as he is in negotiations with Manchester United for the move.
One of his era’s top right-backs, Azpilicueta assisted the Blues in their 2020–21 Champions League victory. The former Marseille right-back joined the Blues in 2012 and went on to make 508 appearances across all competitions for Chelsea. To say he has left a lasting impression at Stamford Bridge would be an understatement.
With Reece James and Malo Gusto, we should have the numbers needed to replace Azpilicueta at right-back. However, his leadership and never say die atitude will be harder to replicate.
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