Trouble as two Chelsea senior defenders to leave in January

The January transfer window is barely a few days away, and rumours are already flying about some players.

A recent report via the Sun UK has revealed that two senior Chelsea players in the person of Cesar Apilicueta and Marcos Alonso, will leave the club in the coming January transfer window.

The reports claimed that the two senior Chelsea players had directed their agents to work on a January move away from Stamford Bridge.

This comes as Azpilicueta, who is Chelsea captain, has lost his place in Thomas Tuchel’s squad this season as he has only started in 10 out of the opening 17 matches of the Premier League season so far this season.

It appears Tuchel prefers to start Reece James at the left-wing. At the same time, Azpilicueta is left to fight for game time at the centre back against Thiago Silva, Antonio Rudiger, Trevoh Chalobah, and Andreas Christensen.

Azpilicueta’s current contract with the Blues is expected to lapse in June 2022; he, however, wants to leave the west London club before then in order to get settled in a new club ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

On the other hand, Alonso was Tuchel’s first-choice left wing-back at the start of the season, but he has since lost his place to Ben Chilwell, who has been more impressive for the Blues.

Alonso has 18 months remaining on his current deal and has started the last four Premier League games following the knee injury suffered by Chilwell.

But it seems Alonso and Azpilicueta are not happy with their game time under Tuchel and want to leave.

McGarry said: “We are now obviously in the countdown to Qatar, less than a calendar year, and so players are getting itchy feet with regards to if they are not playing regularly they may well miss out, especially players of a certain age.

“That certainly applies to Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso at Chelsea.

“Two full-backs who, at one point, looked absolutely irreplaceable, [before] the emergence of Reece James and the purchase of Ben Chilwell.

“Azpilicueta and Alonso have informed their representatives to find another club or certainly to find alternatives where they believe that they will get playing time.

“They will then get a chance in doing so to earn a place in their respective World Cup squads.”