Tuchel determined to keep this defender at Chelsea

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel reportedly want Cesar Azpilicueta to remain at the club this summer.

Should Azpilicueta decides to remain at Stamford Bridge, a clause in his deal with the Blues will be automatically activated, which will see him extend his stay by another 12 months.

This means he would no longer be a free agent this summer window and any club wanting to sign him for free would have to wait till next season to sign him.

However, Azpilicueta has been linked with a return to Spanish side Barcelona this summer, who are ready to offer him a two-year deal.

Nevertheless, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Tuchel is pushing hard to keep the Blues captain at Stamford Bridge, especially as the Blues are faced with the prospect of losing several leadership figures this summer.

Aside from Azpilicueta, Italian midfielder Jorginho, who captained the Blues in Azpilicueta’s absence last season, has also been linked with a return to Italy, where he would join Serie A side Juventus, while Antonio Rudiger has completed a transfer to the Spanish side Real Madrid.