Chelsea are facing the prospect of losing three key defenders at the end of the season in Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen and Cesar Azpilicueta but Thomas Tuchel has backed the club over contract negotiations.
The start of this season saw Thiago Silva in the final year of his deal, in addition to the aforementioned trio, but the Brazilian extended his contract by a further season.
Rudiger has made more appearances than any other Chelsea player other than Mason Mount with 33, while Azpilicueta has recorded 29 and Christensen 22. It is unavoidable to consider the players as crucial to Tuchel's starting XI this season and in an ideal world the former Borussia Dortmund boss would probably hope to not be losing any, never mind all of them.