As per the very reliable reporter Gerard Romero, Cesar Azpilicueta is ‘close to joining’ Barcelona.

The Chelsea captain’s contract expires at the end of this season and he is free to negotiate with foreign clubs in January.

Romero reports that Barcelona have an agreement ‘in principle’ for Azpi to join them in June. Only a few minor personal details need sorting out and then the contract can be signed. 

However, these ‘personal issues’ can also ‘change the course of the whole operation’, Romero warns.

Azpi has been at Chelsea for a decade now and Thomas Tuchel earlier sounded confident of his skipper extending his deal.