Real Madrid are ready to sell players to raise funds and make room for Antonio Rudiger as they look to sign the Chelsea defender on a free transfer.
Germany international Rudiger has been a mainstay in Chelsea’s team over the past five seasons, helping the Blues win the Champions League and FA Cup since his £29m move from Rome in 2017.
Chelsea and Thomas Tuchel want Rudiger to sign a new deal at Stamford Bridge but the 28-year-old is stalling over putting pen to paper, with his current contract set to expire next summer.
Rudiger will be free to discuss terms with a new club come January and the likes of Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain have been linked with moves for the defender.
According to Spanish outlet AS, Real Madrid have joined the race to sign Rudiger with manager Carlo Ancelotti – who returned to the Bernabeu last summer – a huge admirer.
Raphael Varane and Sergio Ramos both left Madrid recently and Ancelotti is keen to bolster his options at centre-back, with Rudiger now one of the club’s top targets.
Rudiger is believed to be keen on a move to La Liga giants Madrid, who are said to be willing to offer him a lucrative salary worth £200,000-a-week.
AS also say Real Madrid are expected to sell a number of big stars at the end of the season, with the impending departures of Gareth Bale, Isco and Marcelo set to raise funds and make room for a few additions, including Rudiger.
Rudiger’s former Chelsea team-mate Eden Hazard is also expected to leave Madrid following his underwhelming three-year stint at the Bernabeu.
Discussing the speculation surrounding his future, Rudiger said last week: ‘The most important thing is that I feel happy here.
‘I think if people look at it, they can see I’m happy. About the contract situation, I talk with the club. This is for nobody’s ears.
‘It was how I said it would be after the Euros – there would be talks. There was a talk between Marina [Granovskaia, a Chelsea director] and my agent.
‘We have the situation where we are at now and I have nothing to do with all the speculation. This is not in my mind. I’m focused on what I’m doing because this is why I wake up every morning.’
Former Liverpool and Germany midfielder Didi Hamann, meanwhile, has tipped Rudiger to stay at Chelsea despite the rumours linking him with a move away from Stamford Bridge.
‘I don’t see any reason why he should leave Chelsea. He did ok in Germany early in his career, but he’s become a much better player since moving abroad,’ Hamann told Metro.co.uk via FreeSuperTips.
‘I think he’s getting a lot better with his game, but I don’t think he’ll be an option for Bayern Munich.
‘I don’t see Rudiger at Bayern Munich I’ve got to say, but if he’s available on a free then there will be a lot of clubs interested. He suits the way Chelsea play and I think he’ll stay at the club.’
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Source: Metro Sport