Four Chelsea superstars who could leave Stamford Bridge for free next year
There are four big names who are currently in the last year of their respective contracts, and the club needs to negotiate new deals with them before it’s too late. These players are instrumental in the club’s success and they need to be protected. Thus, without any further ado, here are the four Chelsea players who could become free agents by next year.
4. Thiago Silva, Age 36
The Brazilian legend and evergreen center-back, Thiago Silva, will be without a contract next season. While keeping Silva for more than a couple of years was never the main idea, his performances and dedication to the team have made him one of the main players in the team. He was not only exceptional last season, but he also started in the Champions League finals. His former relationship with Thomas Tuchel has helped him a lot and it seems that he is one of the best in the league even at his ripe age. His performance last season made Chelsea trigger a clause in his contract which extended his contract for another year.
However, although he has been great, his age is catching up with him a bit, and he tends to get injured more often than he used to. Had the Blues been able to sign Jules Kounde, saying goodbye to Silva would not have been a problem. However, the deal did not go through and after selling Kurt Zouma we are looking a bit short on the center-back side. Of course, Trevoh Chalobah is an up-and-coming center-back however, Silva can help out with his experience, and I do believe he should be kept on for one more season as a backup.
3. Andreas Christensen, Age 25
Danish center-back, Andreas Christensen, joined Chelsea when he was only 16 years old. He worked his way up the ranks of the club and has finally started to play regularly for the starting eleven again. Chelsea is a notoriously tough team for academy players since the club likes to buy world-class players every now and then. Christensen however, always had the potential to be one of the best defenders in the world.
The two main problems with the Dane were that firstly he was inconsistent and secondly, he was injury-prone. The player always featured for the Blues in every season, however, he was never played regularly. This changed when Tuchel came into the club.
Under the new coach, the Dane found a new chance to jump-start his Chelsea career once again. He has been fantastic ever since the former Paris Saint-Germain coach took over, and he has clearly matured a lot since he does not make silly mistakes anymore. His performance in the Euros and the Champions League finals were exceptional, and recently in the match against Liverpool, he showed that he can be counted on in tough situations.
The player is a real gem and must be protected by the club. His contract will come to an end in 2022 however, talks have already begun with the player, and it has been reported that the player is close to signing a new long-term deal.
2. Antonio Rudiger, Age 28
One of the players who had the biggest turnaround since Tuchel took over was Antonio Rudiger. The 28-year-old German who was brought into the club from Roma in 2017, never really fit in with the team before. He is a robust, no-nonsense defender however, he was prone to making mistakes. He was also put out of action for a long time with a recurring groin injury. Frank Lampard tried to implement him in the team however, finally decided to go with Kurt Zouma and Silva instead. This was a huge hit in confidence for the German, and he was most likely going to leave the club had Tuchel not come in.
Since the German manager gave a priority to all the German players in the squad, Rudiger was also given another lifeline. He put all his heart into this last chance and was arguably one of the best players for us last season. His performance improved massively and his Champions League finals display was out of this world. He is currently one of the best defenders in the Premier League and was even nominated by UEFA for the Best Defender of the Year award.
Even though Rudiger has proved himself to the club, negotiations are taking longer than expected. According to reports, Chelsea wants to extend his contract with improved wages however, the player is not happy with the amount being offered to him. The player and the club are still negotiating however, the Blues may lose him for free next year if they don’t close the deal soon. The player has been monumental for the club in recent months and it will be a shame to lose him. Hopefully, the player and the club can come to a compromise and extend his contract for a few more years.
1. Cesar Azpilicueta, Age 32
Captain Cesar Azpilicueta is the last player on this list and probably the most important player out of them all. Yes, he is no longer in his 20s but the captain has given his blood, sweat, and tears for the club, and he has certainly got many more years to give to Chelsea.
The versatile right-back joined the Blues back in 2012 and since then has gone on to win almost every club trophy available. He has won the Premier League twice, the Champions League once, the Europa League twice, the Super Cup once and both the FA Cup and League Cup once as well. The only trophy that the player needs to collect in order to finish his collection would be the FIFA Club World Cup, which they might go on to win this season.
The Spaniard is an exceptional skipper and an inspiration to all the youngsters at the club. He has played over 400 games for the club and recently made his 300th Premier League appearance. He has been a loyal and dedicated player for the club, and his legacy has been cemented at Stamford Bridge. One of the most underrated and humble players in the world went on to captain one of the biggest clubs in the world to European glory. He is an unbelievable player and an extraordinary leader. Azpilicueta always puts his 100 percent into each and every game, and his hard work has rewarded him with a plethora of trophies.
The Blues will most likely be able to sign a new deal with him however, as things stand currently, he will become a free agent next year. This cannot happen and the European champions must pin him down to the club as the club does not have another player like him. His versatility allows Tuchel to play him as a center-back and a right-back, which is very important right now. More importantly, we need him to continue at the club and lead the new players to more trophies.