Chelsea could still keep Cesar Azpilicueta ‘after one-year extension is triggered BEFORE financial sanctions’

CESAR AZPILICUETA’S potential free transfer from Chelsea to Barcelona has hit a snag.

The Blues are currently unable to offer any new deals to their players or sign any new ones due to the sanctions imposed on owner Roman Abramovich.

Spaniard Azpilicueta was one of several stars at the club who were due to become free agents when their contracts expire in June.

Reports have been building for months that the 32-year-old Chelsea skipper was set to return to his homeland with Barcelona.

However, he will no longer be a free agent at the end of the season, according to .

They claim that an automatic one-year extension in Azpilicueta’s deal has now become active.

That was due to a clause that triggered it when he made over 30 appearances this season.

His start against Norwich last week took him to 33 for the current campaign, including the Uefa Super Cup.

Now his move to the Nou Camp could be in jeopardy with the LaLiga side unwilling to pay any transfer fee for the veteran.

It is claimed that Azpilicueta is hoping to come to a diplomatic agreement with the crisis-hit West London outfit.

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He may try to talk to Chelsea chiefs and attempt to convince him to allow him to walk away for nothing.

But it is also alleged that he does not want to disrespect the Club World Cup champions.

He is aiming for a friendly solution and is believed to be working on an outcome that would satisfy all parties.