Antonio Rudiger contract: Breakthrough for Chelsea as defender makes big admission

Antonio Rudiger has broken his silence on his Chelsea future  – with a trusted source from Germany now stating the defender is planning to stay at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues are locked in talks over a new deal for the Germany defender. His contract expires at the end of the season and is now, therefore, free to negotiate with foreign clubs in view of next season.

It may come as an unwelcome distraction, however. On the pitch, the German has been one of the Premier League’s best defenders this season and a maintstay of Thomas Tuchel’s rearguard. As such, Chelsea are determined to keep him.

However, to do so, they must meet his wage demands. In that regard, they may be thinking twice, since he reportedly wants to become the Premier League’s highest-paid defender.

Rudiger will be 29 years old by the time he arranges his next agreement. Therefore, this could be the last big contract of his career. Chelsea must weigh up all the pros and cons of the deal.

But it may be out of their hands anyway. As things stand, Rudiger can open talks with other suitors. Two of the main clubs waiting to pounce are Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid.

However, amid all the speculation, trusted German journalist, Christian Falk of Bild, claims Rudiger is making it his ‘priority’ to stay at Chelsea beyond this season. And while their initial offer was wafted away, the two parties are continuing negotiations in an effort to find some common ground.

Tuchel will be delighted with outcome

That will be music to Tuchel’s ears, who has come to depend hugely on Rudiger.

Now the defender has also opened up on his future and could not resist a go at the media for ‘spicing things up’ on his future.

Antonio Rudiger contract: defender now wants to stay

German defender is a man in demand, but now intends to extend Chelsea contract

“In the case of transfer rumours, it is well known that the media always like to add a little more salt and pepper to make the headline a bit more explosive and bigger.

“Accordingly, you will not hear from me until the day of the final decision. We still have a lot to do at Chelsea this season, and my full focus at the moment is on the City game. My agent is currently taking care of everything else,” he told SportsBild, via Sport Witness.

Man Utd urged to offer Antonio Rudiger contract

As well as suitors from abroad, Rudiger has also been linked with moves within the Premier League.

As such, former Red Devils winger Luke Chadwick has urged the club to do everything in their power to sign Rudiger.

He told CaughtOffside: “Rudiger is the sort of defender United need at the moment. He’s improved so much over the last 18 months in terms of his ball carrying. He’d add a lot to this United squad.

“A lot of football is built about relationships. If he has got a strong relationship with Rangnick then United would be silly not to pursue that.

“He’s shown this season that he’s one of the top central defenders in the Premier League. That is despite him playing three at the back as Thomas Tuchel does at Chelsea.

“But I’m sure he could do a job at United. Defensively it’s not been right there for a while now. New faces can bring the best out of others and improve competition.

“Obviously Varane came in and has suffered with injuries, Maguire’s out at the moment … I think you can never have too many good players and the competition is what you need.”

READ MORE: Chelsea have two days to make transfer call, as manager claims Blues striker ‘wants’ out