According to Mirror, Tottenham are one of two clubs likely to sign Antonio Rudiger. The Chelsea defender has appeared surplus to requirements for Frank Lampard and has been told to find a new club. Tottenham Hotspur and Paris Saint-Germain are believed to be frontrunners in the race to sign the German centre-back, who is expected to leave Stamford Bridge on loan.
Antonio Rudiger: A Victim Of Chelsea’s Spending Spree
Antonio Rudiger seems like one of many Chelsea players who have come on the receiving end of Chelsea’s lavish spending this summer that saw them sign multiple first-team stars.
In the defensive department, Thiago Silva was brought in from PSG to inject more experience and composure in the backline. The Blues have also signed Malang Sarr on a free transfer, although the ex-Nice defender has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge, on a season-long loan deal.
Regardless, it seems Lampard is pretty content with the central defensive unit consisting of Cesar Azpilicueta, Andreas Christensen, Kurt Zouma, Thiago Silva and Fikayo Tomori, leaving Rudiger out of contention.
What Can Rudiger Bring To The Table?
Rudiger’s spell at Chelsea hasn’t been a successful one by any means, with the German often struggling with injuries throughout his career at Stamford Bridge. In fact, the ex-Stuttgart centre-back has been an injury-prone defender for the entirety of his career, which should be a worrying sign for Tottenham Hotspur.
At the same time, however, Rudiger does bring in loads of experience at the highest level of football, having made over 200 combined appearances during his time in Italy, Germany and England. He has also won 30 caps for Die Mannschaft.
From a tactical perspective, Rudiger’s tall 1.90m frame and his combative qualities could fit Mourinho’s style of play as he can add that extra physicality and robustness in the Tottenham backline.
How Does He Fit In At Tottenham?
Rudiger’s potential arrival at Tottenham could make a world of sense for the club given their shallow defensive department, with Juan Foyth being the latest player to leave north London on loan.
The German international could, therefore, provide cover for first-team defenders in Eric Dier and Davinson Sanchez. His presence in the side could even add an incentive for the likes of Toby Alderweireld and Japhet Tanganga to fight for their place in the starting lineup. Most importantly, it will allow Mourinho to reserve a strong defensive shape for the midweek cup matches.
Indeed, the central defensive pairing of Rudiger and Alderweireld could be used in the Europa League, with Dier and Sanchez playing in the Premier League. However, the Lilywhites will be hoping that the Chelsea defender stays fit if he does indeed switch to north London this summer.
