Chelsea have a 'unilateral clause' that reduces the chance of Barcelona being able to pull off a swoop for Cesar Azpilicueta amid constant transfer talk ahead of the summer, according to reports.
Azpilicueta, 32, will have spent 10 years at Stamford Bridge by the end of his contract, after joining the club from Marseille in 2012. The Spaniard has gone on to become the club captain, winning a total of eight trophies in his time wearing a blue shirt.
He's currently trying to make it nine as himself and his teammates compete against Brazilian side Palmeiras for the Club World Cup - the only trophy he hasn't won to date in his long Blues tenure.
Amid talk of a defensive summer re-structure which could see the likes of Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen and the 32-year-old depart, although there is renewed hope that a deal can be struck for the former of the trio, time is running out for the European Champions as the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid circle for their soon-to-be free agents.
Reports had come out from the Spanish press in recent days that a deal between the Catalan giants and Chelsea's current number 28 had been 'all but agreed', but new developments coupled with the player's recent comments on the situation plant a fresh seed of doubt as to whether the 2021/22 campaign will end up being his last or not.
Spanish publication Marca report the west London outfit's hierarchy have all the power in this situation due to the fact that the defender isn't actively pushing for an exit and a clause in his deal.
'Chelsea, who have been trying to get their captain to renew his contract for some time, have a unilateral option to renew for two more seasons,' the report says.
'If the English club wants, they can exercise it and the footballer will continue at Stamford Bridge. That is what the contract says and the club has the right to execute the agreement.'
Azpilicueta said on the situation ahead of the Al Hilal win: "I'm not going to speak about my future. We are one day before the semi-final of the tournament. Of course, I arrived in the summer of 2012 and I didn't have kids. My kids were born in London and you know how I feel about Chelsea. But I am not going to comment on my future."
