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Chelsea still in talks with Azpilicueta

Thomas Tuchel admitted Chelsea are "still in talks" on Cesar Azpilicueta's future, with Barcelona upholding interest in the Stamford Bridge skipper.

Azpilicueta triggered an automatic, appearance-related one-year extension to his contract at the end of March, thwarting Barcelona's chances of recruiting the 32-year-old on a free transfer.

Tuchel at the time praised the importance of that extension, given Azpilicueta's experience and influence at the west London club.

Now, however, the Blues manager has conceded Chelsea are still in discussions with Azpilicueta. Asked if he still hopes that Azpilicueta will stay despite outside interest, Tuchel replied: "I would hope strongly, he knows this, he knows it. We are still in the talks to find out the ideal solution.

"We had a lot of these talks because very genuinely it felt like he won everything after the Club World Cup, then suddenly given his personal situation I can understand these thoughts that maybe a cycle is at its end.

"Then it's a change of ownership and he played only under this owner, in this structure, so it maybe increased even his second thoughts about his situation.

"But then his extension kicked in at the same time and he loves the club, he loves the challenge, he loves to be here and he is our captain. So we are still in a dialogue."

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