Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly set to abandon their pursuit of Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger amid negotiations with another club.

A recent report from Football Insider has offered an update on Tottenham Hotspur’s pursuit of Antonio Rudiger. The Chelsea superstar was one of the club’s top defensive targets for the summer transfer window, but it appears the club chairman Daniel Levy has opted to end interest in the defender after learning he is in talks with another club.

Tottenham are convinced they are not in a position to lure Rudiger to north London as he is already close to striking a deal with a fellow European giant. While the club in question remains in anonymity, Barcelona remain one of the potential candidates, having recently held a secret meeting with the player’s agents in the city.

Rudiger’s likely move to a foreign club has compelled Tottenham to set sights on other options. They are in the market for a new centre-back in the summer, as Antonio Conte looks to add a reliable defensive partner for Cristian Romero next season.

In addition to the lack of consistency from Eric Dier, the club are expected to part ways with a few of the unwanted stars, including Joe Rodon, who is determined to leave Tottenham. Japhet Tanganga has struggled with injuries as well and could be forced to bid farewell in the coming summer.

Rudiger has appeared on the radar of several European giants (Photo by Alex Burstow/Getty Images)
Chelsea defender Rudiger has appeared on the radar of several European giants (Photo by Alex Burstow/Getty Images)

Tottenham have targeted several individuals in the market, including in-demand Torino centre-back Gleison Bremer. The Lilywhites, though, are set to face stiff competition from Arsenal and Manchester United in the pursuit of the Brazilian this summer.

Another potential option could be Stefan de Vrij, with Conte keen on a potential reunion with Inter Milan’s defensive stalwart next season. The Dutchman is unlikely to cost a fortune either, with the Nerazzurri prepared to offload the defender for a fee of around €20 million.

Chelsea, for their part, are already preparing for life without Rudiger next season. The ongoing ownership crisis has put a halt to the club’s planning for the upcoming season, but the Blues remain confident of luring a couple of attractive players in the summer, with Ronald Araujo of Barcelona emerging as a potential target for Chelsea.

Also Read: Chelsea and Abramovich in limbo: What do the UK government sanctions mean for the club?

Signing the Uruguayan, though, will be tricky for Chelsea as he is also a target for PSG and Manchester United, while the player himself might opt to remain at Camp Nou due to his excellent relationship with Xavi Hernandez. As for Tottenham, it will be interesting to see who arrives at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as a defensive reinforcement.

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