According to reports, Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta is closing in on a move to Serie A side Inter Milan on a free transfer.
The fan favourite has slipped down the pecking order since Reece James’s rise to prominence and nearly left Chelsea last year when Barcelona showed interest, only to accept a new contract at Stamford Bridge.
Azpilicueta has been told he is free to leave Chelsea, and sources have revealed that he is close to a move to Inter. Malo Gusto, a January addition who will add extra competition for James at Stamford Bridge, is expected to arrive there this summer.
While Saudi Arabia and Bayern Munich have both expressed interest in Azpilicueta, 33, he is likely to take his skills to Inter, who have reached an agreement on a two-year contract with the right-back.
Despite still having one year remaining on his deal at Chelsea, Azpilicueta is expected to be granted a free transfer as a sign of respect for his 11 years of service.
Azpilicueta joined in Chelsea in 2012 from Marseille with little fanfare, but he quickly made a name for himself as an essential member of the team’s defence. He has played on both the right and left sides of the defence and, later in his career, even switched to the centre-back position.
Azpilicueta is sixth on the club’s all-time appearance list with 508 appearances for Chelsea, and club management are eager to acknowledge his loyalty by allowing him to leave on a free transfer.
All summer long, conversations between Chelsea and Inter have been heated over a number of topics. While the Blues pulled out of a deal for goalkeeper Andre Onana, negotiations regarding striker Romelu Lukaku are still going on.
Lukaku is eager to get back after spending the previous season on loan with Inter. Chelsea is pushing for a permanent transfer, but Inter can only afford a loan, thus efforts are being made to reach a compromise that is advantageous to all parties.