Chelsea centre-back Antonio Rudiger scored vs Brentford,
In conversation with The Athletic (Subscription Required), Chelsea star Antonio Rudiger has hinted that the onus is on the club to whether or not to retain his services beyond the end of the current campaign.
The German central defender has become a pivotal part of Thomas Tuchel’s defensive setup at Stamford Bridge. He provides a strong dominant physical presence at the back. The former AS Roma player has showcased his sturdiness in central defence on numerous occasions. Despite all the speculation that has been going on regarding his future at the club, the central defender hasn’t let the off-field talk affect his on-field performances.
Rudiger is currently earning £90,000-a-week at Chelsea which makes him one of the lowest-paid senior players at the club. It is believed that the Blues offered him a deal of £140,000-a-week in August but it wasn’t enough to tie him down to a new deal. It is now thought that the German international wants a salary in the region of £225,000-a-week to stay with the West London club beyond next summer.
In his conversation, Rudiger showed signs of positivity, mentioning that he adores the club. He also kept his cards close to his chest and hinted that the club would eventually have to make the decision regarding his future:
“I feel great here, I have always said it. I think the way I play you can see that I’m happy here. But there are also other people who have to make decisions.”
The German centre-back’s current contract expires at the end of the season. To make matters worse Cesar Azpilicueta and Andreas Christensen also have contracts that will get over in the coming summer. The trio possesses a vast amount of experience and losing any of them could be a big blow that too for free.
The 28-year-old defender has played 183 games across all competition for the Blues to date. His experience at the elite level could be a great asset for any club which means that the German wouldn’t be short of suitors should he decide against signing a new deal with Chelsea. It is already believed that top European clubs like Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid have already presented him with offers.
Rudiger spoke about his aim of winning the Premier League after Chelsea’s clinical victory in the finals of Club World Cup against Brazilian club Palmeiras. He also highlighted the dominance of Manchester City in England’s top-flight football tournament:
“Of course I want to win the Premier League……………………… The Premier League is the toughest competition to be honest because Manchester City set a very high standard. We have to get to a point where we can go on a long marathon.”
Tuchel has been a great influence ever since arriving at the club. He has helped steer the Blues in the right direction, guiding them to the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup ever since arriving at Stamford Bridge.
Rudiger has played a key role in helping the club achieve all of this success under the German manager. His physical powers and dominating presence have helped create a defensive fortress at Chelsea. At 28, it feels like the German international still has a lot to give as a footballer. Losing him at such a time, especially on a free transfer could break the heart of several fans.
That being said, there is still hope and only time can tell whether or not the club will be able to agree to a new contract with the German. Rudiger has highlighted that he would like to win the PL title and that it could be a big gap to bridge considering the fact that there is a difference of about 16 points between the Citizens and the West Londoners at the moment.
The coming transfer window could be a crucial one for the Stamford Bridge outfit and the club could be forced to make a huge splash should any of the key defenders leave the club in the summer.
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