Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic wants new Blues deal despite Barcelona interest
Out of favour veteran keen to discuss a contract extension at Stamford Bridge
BRANISLAV IVANOVIC wants to extend his contract at Chelsea despite his current lack of football, according to reports.
The right-back has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge since losing his place under Antonio Conte.
Barcelona have emerged as the latest side to be linked with a move for the 32-year-old – a mouthwatering prospect for most players.
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The La Liga side are looking for a replacement for Aleix Vidal, who has deemed surplus to requirements, but Goal claims that reports of the veteran wanting to leave are “rubbish”.
Ivanovic has also attracted the attention of Premier League rivals West Ham and Crystal Palace, but it is claimed that he is open to talks about extending his deal for a further year.
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He is currently on a rolling one-year contract at Chelsea, which is the club’s policy for players over the age of 30, which he signed in January.
The Blues vice-captain has struggled for game time since he was dropped following the 3-0 defeat at Arsenal, with manager Conte’s switch to a 3-4-3 formation bringing five successive victories.
The Italian coach has been adamant that the Serbian remains a key part of his plans.
As revealed by SunSport on Tuesday, Barca will turn to Darijo Srna to solve their right-back problem.
The 34-year-old would provide them with a short-term answer before starting the search for a younger man to fill the berth next summer.