Antonio Rudiger has become one of the most in-demand defenders in the market, as the German international braces himself for a potential exit away from Stamford Bridge next summer. His current contract at the club expires at the end of the season, with no real suggestion of a potential extension.
It is widely believed that Rudiger has had issues with the Chelsea board over their unwillingness to offer him a lucrative deal. With his German compatriots in Kai Havertz and Timo Werner earning significantly more, the defender is prepared to leave the club in order to acquire a bigger deal elsewhere.
While the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid have expressed interest in snapping up the former Stuttgart centre-back next season, there has also been speculations surrounding a potential move to direct Premier League rivals. Tottenham Hotspur, for one, are among the clubs in contention to sign the experienced star, who has enjoyed immense success under the leadership of Thomas Tuchel.
Sky Sports has recently offered an update on Rudiger’s situation at Stamford Bridge. The English news outlet suggests the defender is in no hurry to sign a pre-contract and is open to exploring his options, including the possibility of prolonging his stay in West London.
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“Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger has said he is in no rush to sign a pre-contract agreement. Signing a new contract at Stamford Bridge has not been ruled out”, claimed Sky Sports, in their Football Daily show.
However, the report does suggest that Chelsea would have to spend the big bucks if they are to keep hold of their star man. “Chelsea would have to make him the highest paid defender in the Premier League to keep him.”, the show added.
Many believe Raphael Varane currently holds the tag of being the highest-paid player in the Premier League right now. The Manchester United defender earns a staggering £340k per week at Old Trafford after joining from Real Madrid in the summer.
While Rudiger is certainly regarded as one of the best defenders in Europe, it might be extremely difficult for any English club, let alone Chelsea, to cough up such a figure, especially with the pandemic once again widening its grip thanks to the recent emergence and spread of the Omicron variant throughout Europe.
