CE YA Barcelona ‘offer Cesar Azpilicueta, 32, two-year contract with Chelsea set to lose their captain on free transfer’

BARCELONA have reportedly upped the ante in their transfer pursuit of Cesar Azpilicueta by offering the Chelsea defender a contract.

Posted Saturday, February 19, 2022 by Thesun.co.uk

Azpilicueta's deal with the Blues is up at end of the season and it doesn't seem likely that he will remain at Stamford Bridge.

CE YA Barcelona ‘offer Cesar Azpilicueta, 32, two-year contract with Chelsea set to lose their captain on free transfer’
There's still a possibility that the defender may remain with the Blues as he's yet to accept Barca's proposal Credit: AFP

The uncertainty over the Spaniard's future has prompted Barca to pounce on the 32-year-old with hopes of bringing him to the Nou Camp.

The Catalonian giants have been chasing the Blues legend since December and were said to have an agreement in place with him.

But now, it's been claimed that the Blaugrana have tabled an official contract offer to Azpilicueta, according to transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano.

Xavi's side presented the Spaniard with a two-year proposition with the option to extend for another 12 months, Romano claims.

He also went onto state that the Blues are still keen on Azpilicueta remaining at the club but he's been reluctant to begin talks with the club he joined in 2012.

But there's still a glimmer of hope for the Blues who want to keep hold of their defensive rock as he's yet to agree to Barca's proposal.

Thomas Tuchel's desire to keep hold of the robust and versatile defender is understandable after he proved his worth once again in Chelsea's Club World Cup final win over Brazilian side Palmeiras last week.

Azpilicueta waged psychological warfare on Chelsea's opponents Palmeiras when the Blues were awarded a penalty in extra time.

And his mind games had the desired effect as Kai Havertz slotted home from 12-yards out to give the Blues a coveted 2-1 victory as a dreaded penalty shoot-out edged perilously close.

The Blues' first-ever Club World Cup trophy means Azpilicueta's now won every single trophy during his tenure at West London - before any other player in the team's history.

But not everyone seems to agree that he's worthy of the silverware he's won while at the club.

Football legend Neil Warnock reckons it was luck rather than talent that's led to Azpilicueta's success at Chelsea.

And Warnock's comments evoked a furious response from former Blues John Terry and Cesc Fabregas who hit back at the former Cardiff City boss' claims on Twitter.