Contract talks: Chelsea's complacency setting them up for disaster as Spanish giants invade the Bridge

Chelsea since the 2020 summer have made good progress in their transfer businesses but maybe too focused on incomings and outgoings that they have failed where it really matters.

Stalled contract talks for defenders a real headache for Chelsea. (Credit: Andy Hooper-The Daily Mail)

The Blues last summer in that time had secured the services of Hakim Ziyech, Kai Havertz, Timo Werner, Edouard Mendy, Ben Chilwell, Thiago Silva and Romelu Lukaku, all top signings that every club dreams of having altogether in their squad.

However, the blues have in the process forgotten to start contract talks earlier, with players like Antonio Rudiger, Cesar Azpilicueta and Andreas Christensen now having just six months left on their current contract.

To their displeasure, these players are now being monitored by European heavyweights, making it even more difficult for Chelsea to reach a neutral ground with them in their bid to have them sign a new deal.

Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger is strongly linked with Real Madrid. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)

German defender, Rudiger is being linked with a move to Real Madrid, who are offering the 28year old better terms than Chelsea have on the table.

The former Roma man wants a better offer than what he currently earns at the club, maybe around double his current wage, but this has come to be due to the wage structure of their new signings in recent time.

It is obvious Rudiger will not settle for less as his agent has been up and running just to make sure Chelsea offer is lucrative or the player moves elsewhere for free in the summer.

It will be a huge blow for Thomas Tuchel as Rudiger is his best defender at the club.

For Andreas Christensen, the player wants out of the club for more regular playtime. Having made 11 starts in 13 league appearances out of 21 this season, the Danish defender is still not satisfied despite the number of first team defenders competing for the spot at the heart of the Chelsea defence.

It is really not so easy having so many top players in one position because of the appetite to play week in and out and for international players, always on the lookout to keep their place in their national team, playing second fiddle is not so advisable and that is the case with the 25year old.

The Chelsea Academy graduate has been linked with move to Barcelona and looking at the current situation of the Spanish club, the former Borussia Moenchenglabach loanee will most certainly become a regular at the club.

César Azpilicueta and Andreas Christensen’s Chelsea contracts also runs out in June.

Cesar Azpilicueta’ case is almost the same as that of Christensen but for the 32year old Spaniard, his age is also one of the reason for the stalled contract talks.

Reports has it Chelsea are only tabling a one year contract but the former Marseille man wants more, moreso, more playing time for him to be able to make the Spanish national team squad for the world cup later in the year.

Thomas Tuchel and Chelsea have entrusted the right back position to a more younger and energetic Reece James who has graduated from the club’s Academy and rightly so because James maybe do not have the length of experience of Azpilicueta but that will only change with him getting the minutes.

It is a no brainer and Azpilicueta if he remained at the club will continue to play second fiddle to a player who is the one for the club going forward but at the same time, Chelsea will hope to convince the longest serving player in the current squad to stay at the club.

Barcelona are rumored to be on the verge of reaching an agreement with the player and for the good of Chelsea, it is better to remain a rumour.

With Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen and Cesar Azpilicueta out of contract in the summer, Thiago Silva is also on a year contract so that also runs out in the summer, thus is a situation Chelsea have to fix in time lest things get out of hand.

With that said, Jorginho and N'Golo Kanté are also having their current contract expire in the summer of 2023 and Chelsea need to start negotiation as early as possible in order to avoid a déjà vu.

Author: Kehinde Hassan Afolabi