Next Chelsea owner can continue Thomas Tuchel success by winning crucial summer transfer battle

It was during the January international break that I wrote a piece for which focused on Cesar Azpilicueta's future at Chelsea. My view was the Spaniard, a club legend and one of the finest defenders to have played in the Premier League, should be allowed to walk away at the end of his contract.

The reasons why were myriad. And I stand by many of them. However, the Chelsea of March 2022 – and beyond – is very different to the Chelsea of January 2022. It's why previous convictions must be revisited and reflected upon. Why attitudes towards players and their futures can change.

Over the last two months, Azpilicueta has completed his trophy haul at Chelsea. The Club World Cup was the only piece of silverware missing but thanks to victory over Palmeiras in February, the 32-year-old has won it all with the Blues. It is a remarkable feat, one the likes of Petr Cech, John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba couldn't manage.

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"It is an amazing achievement," Cech, now Chelsea's technical and performance director, stated last month. "All the credit goes to him. When he arrived in 2012, he came first to compete for his spot. He had a long-term injury the year before, so he had had a difficult time before he came to us. He had to start from scratch fighting for his place.

"He is one of those players who never disappoints you. He works hard, he does everything. He is an honest player on the pitch. Off the pitch, he works hard. You know you can rely on him in any situation. That is the key to his success. No matter which manager was in charge, they all knew they could count on him, his attitude, and his qualities. Now he has the huge reward of