Chelsea is poised to terminate the contract of club stalwart Cesar Azpilicueta as part of their ongoing squad overhaul under new manager Mauricio Pochettino....CONTINUE READING
The Spanish defender who has been with the club since 2012 and has made nearly 350 Premier League appearances is expected to join Inter after personal terms and a two-year contract were agreed upon.
Despite featuring prominently under former manager Thomas Tuchel, Azpilicueta is reportedly deemed surplus to requirements by Pochettino, prompting the termination of his current contract which has one year remaining.
The 33-year-old was also a target for his former boss at Bayern Munich, but a move to Serie A is his preferred choice.
Fabrizio Romano has reported that Chelsea and Azpilicueta have reached a mutual decision regarding his future, as Pochettino aims to trim the club’s bloated first-team squad.
The Argentine manager has emphasized the need to work with a smaller group of approximately 24 senior players, a strategy to avoid the challenges faced by his predecessor Graham Potter.
While Chelsea’s focus has primarily been on outgoings, progress is being made on the recruitment front as well.
Edouard Mendy, Hakim Ziyech, and Kalidou Koulibaly are on the verge of completing moves, benefiting from the financial support of the ambitious Saudi Pro League.
These transfers, along with N’Golo Kante’s confirmed departure, have provided Chelsea with a favorable Financial Fair Play situation, often referred to by rival clubs as an “FFP get out of jail card.”
In addition to the ongoing negotiations with Arsenal and Manchester United for Kai Havertz and Mason Mount, Chelsea is expected to see departures in the form of Romelu Lukaku and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
However, the club is actively making progress in their recruitment efforts. Nicolas Jackson is set to undergo a medical ahead of his move from Villarreal, while Christopher Nkunku’s transfer from RB Leipzig was officially confirmed earlier this week.
Although Chelsea missed out on signing Manuel Ugarte, who opted for PSG, they will renew their interest in Brighton’s Moises Caicedo as they continue their search for an ideal midfield partner for Enzo Fernandez.
The ongoing clear-out and rebuild at Chelsea under Pochettino reflects the club’s determination to shape a competitive squad capable of meeting their ambitions for the upcoming season.
As more arrivals and departures are expected in the coming weeks, fans eagerly await the final composition of the Chelsea squad and the fresh challenges they will pose in domestic and European competitions.
