Chelsea is reportedly no longer in talks with Antonio Rudiger regarding a contract extension as per the report in English outlet Sky Sports.
The 28-year-old joined the Blues back in 2017 from Serie A giants AS Roma for around £29.4 million. However, the defender has struggled to establish himself as a starter until the arrival of Thomas Tuchel. The German international has become one of the best defenders in the world during this period, guiding the West London club to the Champions League glory last term.
According to the report, Chelsea hasn’t offered an improved contract proposal to Rudiger after the 28-year-old rejected the initial offer last month. Real Madrid is one of the clubs that are keen on landing the German at the Santiago Bernabeu in the summer. And talks are ongoing between the two parties.
The report further stated that Paris Saint-Germain is also eyeing a move for Rudiger. But a deal is complicated, given the uncertain future of manager Mauricio Pochettino. Manchester United boss Ralf Rangnick is also an admirer of the defender and they are also in the race for the 28-year-old.
Will Antonio Rudiger leave Chelsea at the end of this season?
Losing Antonio Rudiger for free will be a huge blow for Chelsea. The German international has established himself as one of the key members of the first-team squad. And Tuchel will not be happy if the 28-year-old decides to leave the club at the end of this season.
Meanwhile, the Blues are in crisis at the moment defensively. As apart from Rudiger, Andreas Christensen and Cesar Azpilicueta have also entered the final six months of their current contract. And neither of them have committed their future with the reigning Champions League winners.
This uncertain situation has affected the performance as well. The Blues have drifted off from the title race. And they have conceded quite a few goals in the recent games which looked like a watertight defence at the start of the season.
However, the good news for the Chelsea fans will be that they have secured yet another title. As they won the FIFA Club World Cup competition ahead of the EFL Cup final against Liverpool next week.
