Pochettino will let Chelsea legend Cesar Azpilicueta leave on FREE transfer with Italian giants ready to pounce

CHELSEA are willing to listen to offers for captain Cesar Azpilicueta as the summer clearout continues.

And new boss Mauricio Pochettino would be willing to let their stalwart defender leave for a nominal fee or even for nothing as a thank you for the defender’s years of service.

Azpilicueta, 33, has been with Chelsea since 2012 and won every trophy possible with them.

He still has one year left on his contract but faces even stiffer competition for his first team place from next week.

New signing Malo Gusto arrives to start work following his January transfer.

Gusto, 20, signed a seven-and-a-half year deal with Chelsea but was loaned back to selling club Lyon for the remainder of last season.

Reece James is also hopeful he has finally overcome a series of hamstring injuries to reclaim his spot at right back.

Italians Inter are interested in veteran Azpi, who was due to leave Chelsea last summer but the club exercised a two year extension to his contract.

Azpi will be just one of a raft of established Blues stars to ship out in a widespread reshaping of the squad.

Midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek is joining AC Milan on an £18.5million deal, keeper Edouard Mendy has finalised a move to Saudi side Al-Alhi.

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Defender Kalidou Koulibaly is gone, as is last season’s loan forward Joao Felix.

Chelsea are also ready to discuss the departure of America winger Christian Pulisic to AC Milan alongside Loftus-Cheek.

Midfielder Mateo Kovacic has signed for Treble winners Manchester City for £30million.

Chelsea will hold talks with winger Callum Hudson-Odoi next week when he returns for pre-season training after spending last season on loan at German side Bayer Leverkusen.

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