Barcelona
are monitoring Antonio Rudiger's contract situation, with the Chelsea
defender now able to sign a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs after
entering the final six months of his deal.
Sky Sports News reported earlier this week Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain,
Bayern Munich and Juventus have all opened talks with Rudiger's
representatives over a free transfer in the summer.
Rudiger is in no rush to sign a pre-contract agreement with a new club, and
the German international is aware there could be interest from Premier
League sides if he becomes a free agent in the summer.
Ralf Rangnick, the Manchester United interim manager who will take up a
consultancy at Old Trafford in the summer, is an admirer of Rudiger and
knows the Chelsea defender's brother - who is also his agent - well.
Rudiger is 29 in March and his next contract could be the biggest of his
career.
But while the former Roma and Stuttgart defender is keen to be paid what he
believes he is worth, the biggest factor when deciding his future will be
the football project on offer.
Rudiger has not ruled out signing a new contract with Chelsea, but the
European champions would have to make him the highest-paid defender in the
Premier League if they were to keep him.
Chelsea's most recent contract offer - made at the start of the season - was
dismissed by Rudiger and his representatives as it promised to pay him only
half of what the club's top earners make.
Despite the uncertainty over his future, Rudiger is understood to remain
committed to Chelsea for the remainder of his contract and focused on
helping Tuchel's side achieve their objectives.
Tuchel continues to count on Rudiger, with the head coach starting his
compatriot in 20 Premier League games this season - the most of any Chelsea
outfield player.
Rudiger joined Chelsea from Roma in July 2017 and has gone on to win the FA
Cup, Europa League and Champions League with the club.
Chelsea could be facing a number of departures in defence this summer, with
captain Cesar Azpilicueta and Andreas Christensen also seeing their
contracts expire this summer.
However, Thiago Silva will remain at Stamford Bridge next season after
signing a one-year contract extension on Monday.
'Rudiger assessing his options'
Sky Sports News' Dharmesh Sheth:
"It's something we have been talking about for the last few months when we
knew Antonio Rudiger was entering the final year of his contract at Chelsea.
"As far as I'm aware now, Rudiger is in no rush to sign a pre-contract
agreement with a foreign club this month. Earlier this week we did say the
likes of Real Madrid, Juventus, PSG and Bayern Munich had all made contact
with Rudiger's representatives about a pre-contract. We are now told
Barcelona are just keeping an eye on Rudiger's situation, as well as their
own situation to see if they could do such a deal.
"But Rudiger is aware there could yet be Premier League interest in him and
the thing with Premier League interest is, if they want to sign him on a
free transfer, they can't talk to him now. They have to wait until the
summer, hence why he will assess all of his options.
"Signing a new contract at Stamford Bridge, as I have said before, that has
not been ruled out. But what I have been saying for the past few months is
if Chelsea are to keep Rudiger at Stamford Bridge, I'm told they'd have to
make him the highest-paid defender in the Premier League.
"Rudiger turns 29 in March. This next contract could be his last big
contract of his career. So, you can't blame him for just taking a step back
to make the right decision for his career.
"And while he wants to get paid what he feels he deserves and what he feels
he's worth, the final motivating factor will be the football project that
would be available to him.
"Make no mistake about it, Chelsea are desperate to keep him. They do want
to keep and of course, that could still happen. If he hasn't signed a
pre-contract agreement with anyone, all options are still open."
Tuchel: Rudiger knows my appreciation
Thomas Tuchel told reporters ahead of Chelsea's Carabao Cup semi-final first
leg win against Tottenham on Wednesday that he was hopeful Rudiger was aware
of his admiration of his work, having turned him from a fringe player into a
mainstay of his Chelsea defence since he was appointed head coach a year
ago.
"I cannot predict the future and I don't know if his representatives are
talking to other clubs or not," Tuchel said. "Of course, it is possible, it
is January and he hasn't signed a new contract with us yet but we are in
communication with him. The club is in dialogue with his people.
"I assume he is very aware of what I demand from him and how much I
appreciate him. The level on which he is playing is still super high and
outstanding. There are no doubts the situation is a concern for that.
"My opinion is very clear, the club is trying their very best with him so
the situation has not changed a lot."
Di Marzio: Juventus not favourites for
Rudiger signature
Sky Italia transfer guru Gianluca Di Marzio told Sky Sports News:
"Juventus talked to Antonio Rudiger's agent, but they're not too confident
that they are in pole position [to sign him]. There are more important clubs
who want to sign Rudiger.
"If he was to come back to Italy, Juventus would like to have him back. The
strategy at the club is different now - less money, less investment, so if
he has PSG or other important clubs in Spain, I don't think Juventus are the
favourites to sign him."
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