Chelsea are reportedly banking on a Plan B to retain the services of Cesar Azpilicueta as new Barcelona boss Xavi is looking to weave some more magic by snapping up the Blues captain on a free transfer.

Dani Alves has already been recruited for free, with Chelsea man Azpilicueta said to be his next target.

According to ESPN, Barca are keeping a keen eye on how contract talks progress between the Blues and club captain Azpilicueta.

The 32-year-old’s current deal at Stamford Bridge runs out at the end of the season.

The Blues though are thought to be keen to tie him down to a new deal and extend his stay at the club with talks currently ongoing between Blues chiefs and Azpilicueta’s representatives.

Chelsea, according to Sport Witness, ‘will exercise’ the option to extend Cesar Azpilicueta’s contract at the club by a further year if there is no agreement after contract talks.

There is therefore ‘no chance’ he will join Barcelona.

Barcelona are long-term admirers of Azpilicueta and have shown an interest in him in the past.

Antonio Rudiger reportedly feels Chelsea’s latest contract offer is a ‘slap in the face’.

Bild claims the defender has been left fuming after the Blues fell short of his wage demands by £60,000-a-week.

Rudiger, 28, has been one of Chelsea’s star men since Thomas Tuchel took charge at the start of the year.

He played a key role in last season’s Champions League final triumph over Manchester City.

And Blues fans were hoping his contract renewal would be taken care of promptly to prevent a free transfer next summer.

But Chelsea are now facing the very real prospect of losing Rudiger for nothing after another round of contract talks ended in disappointment.

It’s claimed Rudiger is looking for £10m-a-year, which works out to around £190k-a-week.

However, Chelsea are only offering him £7m-a-year – which is around £130k-a-week.

And Rudiger apparently feels disrespected by the gulf in figures, reportedly describing it as a ‘slap in the face’.

Bayern Munich are known to be circling and are rumoured to be preparing a mega-money offer worth £400k-a-week.

There’s also interest from Real Madrid and Juventus.