Chelsea: Rudiger ‘wants to stay’ despite Real Madrid and PSG interest after breakthrough in talks

Antonio Rudiger ‘wants to STAY at Chelsea next season after making a breakthrough in contract talks’, with Thomas Tuchel set to receive a major boost amid interest from Real Madrid and PSG in the defender

  • Antonio Rudiger looked set to leave Chelsea with his contract up in the summer
  • Real Madrid and PSG were battling it out to sign him on a free transfer in July
  • But the Germany star is now reportedly hoping to stay at Stamford Bridge
  • Contract talks between Rudiger’s agent and Chelsea have progressed recently

Antonio Rudiger is now hoping to stay at Chelsea beyond this season after making a breakthrough in contract talks with the club, according to Bild.

Rudiger, 28, looked set to leave Stamford Bridge at the end of June after turning down an extension offer worth £140,000 per week.

Real Madrid initially appeared the frontrunners to snap him up on a free transfer in July, while the likes of PSG and Bayern Munich were also understood to be interested. 

Antonio Rudiger wants to stay at Chelsea this summer after making a breakthrough in talks

Reports in France earlier this week even suggested PSG have offered the Germany defender £6million-a-year to sign for Mauricio Pochettino’s side.

Yet in a dramatic U-turn, Sport Bild’s Christian Falk claims Rudiger now wants to stay at Chelsea and sign a new contract.

Talks between the two parties, which had seemingly reached an impasse, are said to have made significant progress of late.

The news comes as a major boost for Blues head coach Thomas Tuchel, who has transformed Rudiger into one of the best defenders in Europe since taking the helm last year.

The news comes as a major boost for Thomas Tuchel amid interest from Real Madrid and PSG

The news comes as a major boost for Thomas Tuchel amid interest from Real Madrid and PSG

Rudiger helped Tuchel win the Champions League in his first half-season at Stamford Bridge

Rudiger helped Tuchel win the Champions League in his first half-season at Stamford Bridge

Tuchel said last month: ‘I cannot predict the future and I don’t know if (Rudiger’s) representatives are talking to other clubs or not.

‘Of course, it is possible, it is January and he hasn’t signed a new contract with us yet but we are in communication with him, the club is in dialogue with his people.’

Rudiger has made 166 appearances for Chelsea since joining from Roma in 2017, winning the FA Cup, Champions League and Europa League.

He has been a key member of Tuchel’s three-man defence, playing a crucial role in their Champions League triumph last season.