Local rivals enter the race for out-of-favour Chelsea star

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger

According to The Telegraph, Chelsea star Antonio Rudiger has emerged as a transfer target for Tottenham Hotspur.

Our North London rivals have identified the Blues defender as an alternative for Inter Milan star Milan Skriniar.

While the Slovakian is still on their radar, Spurs and Inter are still some ways apart in their valuation.

With just under a week to go before the window closes, time is running out for Tottenham to work out a deal. This has seen them consider alternatives, with one of them being Rudiger.

Rudiger’s future at the club has come into question after he was left out of the Chelsea squad for the matches against Liverpool, Barnsley and West Brom. He was also an unused substitute for the season opener against Brighton and Hove Albion.

Having signed Thiago Silva this summer, Rudiger is effectively the fifth- choice centre-back at Stamford Bridge.

While Chelsea prefers to loan out Rudiger, they are keen to see him pen a new deal before doing so. With two more years on his deal, the club’s logic is understandable.

According to the report, it is unsure if Rudiger will agree to sign a new deal, knowing his future lies elsewhere. The Blues are also ready to sell him on a permanent basis.

The 27-year-old joined Chelsea in 2017 from AS Roma. He has since gone on to rack up 115 appearances for the club. However, he endured a difficult 2019/20 campaign due to injuries.

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Chelsea are not averse to selling to their rivals. We have sold the likes of Juan Mata and Nemanja Matic to Manchester United in the past.

While Rudiger will give Spurs more options, he is not a player Chelsea will miss.