Micah Richards has urged Chelsea to get Antonio Rudiger to sign a new contract as it will cost fortunes to replace the reported Tottenham transfer target, via his Daily Mail column.
Rudiger only has six-months left on his deal at Stamford Bridge and can begin to negotiate pre-contracts in January. The 28-year-old has never extended his terms with the Blues since joining the club from Roma for £34m in 2017.
He has helped the south-west London side win the FA Cup, Europa League and last season’s Champions League since joining. Thomas Tuchel has also restored the German centre-back to a key role in their defence since replacing Frank Lampard.
Rudiger only played four of Chelsea’s 19 Premier League games under Lampard last term. But he has started 29 of a possible 34 since the Blues hired Tuchel to take over in January.
Richards urges Chelsea to retain Rudiger with new contract
Tottenham are monitoring Rudiger’s contract situation with Chelsea, as a free transfer is on the horizon for next summer. Eurosport journalist Dean Jones reports Spurs would also give Rudiger one of the biggest offers for personal terms to join.
Richards, however, would urge Chelsea to thrash out a deal to keep the 49-cap enforcer in south-west not north London. He also feels the Blues’ handling of the matter is confusing.
“Antonio Rudiger has been at the heart of it all and they have to get him tied down to a new contract with plenty of clubs around Europe waiting to offer him big wages,” he said.
“I do not understand the sense in allowing a player of that quality to leave in his peak years when it will cost fortunes to replace him. Rudiger was out of the picture under Frank Lampard, but has really stepped up since Tuchel took over.”
Rudiger heading towards Stamford Bridge exit amid transfer interest
Rudiger is heading more and more toward leaving Chelsea at the end of his contract, amid interest from Tottenham in a free transfer. But Spurs are not leading the race for his arrival.
Reports by The Athletic claim Real Madrid are increasingly confident that Rudiger will sign a pre-contract with them in January. Chelsea have also not held any talks with the German to discuss staying at Stamford Bridge beyond the season recently.
Chelsea will have to significantly increase their previous contract offer to convince Rudiger to stay. The Athletic add he currently earns £90k-a-week and wants around £200k-a-week to extend his deal. But the Blues only offered him £140k-a-week amid talks during August.
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