The Blues are ready to raise their offer to match Antonio Rudiger’s demands, in an attempt to prevent too many free departures next summer, Goal reports. Moreover, the club has prepared a shortlist of replacements for the worst-case scenario.
The German international is due to become a free agent in five months, provided he doesn’t sign a renewal. Fearing that they might lose too many important first-team defenders – Cesar Azpilicueta and Andreas Christensen are also stalling signing extensions – the Blues are prepared to match Rudiger’s financial demands, thus keeping him at the club.
While negotiations continue, it is believed that Chelsea have offered Rudiger a new 200,000 pounds-a-week extension. The centre-back has attracted interest from Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, and Manchester United in recent weeks – and would be eligible for a massive signing-on fee should he join them as a free agent – but he hasn’t made a definitive decision regarding his future yet.
Rumors have also linked Bayern Munich with Rudiger in the past. The Bavarians will be on the lookout for a new player at the heart of defence after it was confirmed that they would be losing Niklas Sule on a free to rivals Borussia Dortmund.
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However, the report states that the German giants have since withdrawn their name from the Rudiger race and are instead focusing on signing his current Chelsea teammate, Christensen.
Chelsea have reportedly drawn up a list of potential replacements should they fail to agree to terms with Rudiger over an extension. The Blues chased after Sevilla’s Jules Kounde last summer and have retained their interest in the Frenchman.
However, they are also interested in Leicester City star Wesley Fofana. Joining Kounde and Fofana on the shortlist is Barcelona’s Ronald Araujo.
The Spanish giants are themselves locked in negotiations with the Uruguay international, but an agreement to renew his contract – which expires in 2023 – hasn’t been found yet.
