Cesar Azpilicueta will not be allowed to leave Chelsea until the Blues can sign at least one defensive reinforcement, according to a report.
The 32-year-old has now entered the final 12 months of his deal with Thomas Tuchel's side and could follow a number of Blues defenders out of the door this summer.
Chelsea boss Tuchel is determined to keep hold of his captain, but his contract situation has put the Blues in an awkward position, as they do not want to lose him on a free transfer in 2023.
A move to Barcelona has been strongly mooted for Azpilicueta, who would reportedly command a mere £7m to see his exit from Stamford Bridge sanctioned this summer.
However, the Spain international's exit from the club will not be all that straightforward after Tuchel was already forced to wave goodbye to Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger.
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According to the Daily Mail, Chelsea are prepared to block Azpilicueta's desired move to Barcelona until they can welcome at least one new defender to the club ahead of the 2022-23 season.
The report claims that Barcelona have offered Azpilicueta a two-year deal until the summer of 2024, and the former Marseille man is pining for a switch to Camp Nou.
Chelsea have supposedly softened their stance on Azpilicueta's exit, and the defender will be allowed to complete a move elsewhere after his glittering 10-year stint in the English capital if the club can strike a deal for a new centre-back.
Azpilicueta has collected a haul of medals since arriving at Stamford Bridge in 2012, winning the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, Europa League, Club World Cup, EFL Cup and UEFA Super Cup with the Blues.
The ex-Osasuna youngster has recorded 17 goals and 55 assists in 474 appearances for Chelsea across all competitions, and Chelsea are thought to be making progress in their efforts to sign a replacement.
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Talks are said to be progressing over a deal to bring Nathan Ake back to the club from Manchester City, five years after the Dutchman left for Bournemouth on a permanent basis for £20m.
Meanwhile, Napoli centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly - who only has one year left to run on his deal with the Partenopei - has revealed that a move to Chelsea is on the "right track".
The Blues can supposedly expect to fork out as much as €40m (£33.8m) to sign the 31-year-old, while Presnel Kimpembe and Jules Kounde are still being linked with moves to West London.
Azpilicueta's move to Barcelona would see him quickly reunite with Christensen, who will be coming up against former Blues teammate Rudiger in El Clasico later this year.
Left-back Marcos Alonso is also said to be on the Blaugrana's radar, but the 31-year-old could command a slightly higher fee of £11m.
Ben Knapton
