Juventus have reportedly emerged as the front-runners in the race to sign Antonio Rudiger, who is set to leave Chelsea in the summer.
A recent report from Gazzetta Dello Sport has offered a crucial update on the future of Antonio Rudiger. The Chelsea centre-back is almost destined to leave Stamford Bridge come the end of the season, with a host of top clubs across Europe keen on securing his services on a free transfer.
Real Madrid and Bayern Munich were tipped as potential destinations for Rudiger next season. But it appears Juventus have taken the lead in the race to sign the German international after holding talks with the player surrounding a potential move to Turin.
The report suggests Juventus are prepared to offer Rudiger a lucrative contract, as they have taken advantage of Real Madrid’s waiting game. Rudiger has already held talks with the Serie A giants’ representatives, with both sides optimistic about reaching an agreement in the near future.
Chelsea, for their part, have given up on their quest to extend the contract of Rudiger. After being hit by a series of sanctions against Roman Abramovich, the club have been effectively barred from holding talks with players over new deals. They are also under a transfer embargo, which could result in serious repercussions in the coming months.
The Blues have been offered a boost by the Government, but the club are still in desperate need of an imminent takeover. World Athletics President Lord Sebastian Coe has recently teamed up with Sir Martin Broughton’s consortium, launching a bid to acquire Chelsea Football Club.
It may still be a while before Chelsea can release itself from the shackles of Abramovich, who may receive no funds at all from the sale of the football club. It could ultimately lead to some kind of pushback from the Russian billionaire, ultimately leading to an elongated takeover process.
Such a despotic situation at Stamford Bridge has compelled Rudiger to leave the club in the summer, with a return to Serie A on the cards. The German might not be the only player leaving Chelsea either, as fellow defender Andreas Christensen reportedly has a verbal agreement with FC Barcelona.
Also Read: Chelsea and Abramovich in limbo: What do the UK government sanctions mean for the club?
Cesar Azpilicueta has been linked with a move to Camp Nou as well, so Chelsea could be in for a difficult summer transfer window as they look to replace these defensive assets ahead of the new season. That said, Azpilicueta will likely stay at Chelsea for another year due to an extension clause in his contract.
