Real Madrid Are Chasing Chelsea's $40M Star Who Is One Of Tuchel’s Favorites: Report

Real Madrid are reportedly interested in signing Chelsea’s star defender Antonio Rudiger next summer.

Considering Real Madrid are still suffering from the pandemic’s aftermath, they are not looking to spend much in the transfer market. Rudiger’s current deal with Chelsea is due to end in the summer of 2022 and the German defender has not signed an extension yet. Real Madrid are looking to either secure a free transfer for Rudiger or a cut-price deal in January, reported Spanish publication Marca.

Real Madrid signed David Alaba on a free transfer last summer from Bayern Munich and are looking to pull off a similar transfer this time around. Following the departures of Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane, Real Madrid are missing a solid partnership at the backline. Los Blancos have conceded 10 goals this season. Ramos and Varane were key figures that helped Real Madrid win four Champions League titles.

After spending 16 long years at Real Madrid, Ramos left the club this summer to join Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) on a free transfer. Varane, who spent a decade with Los Blancos, made a $46 million switch to Manchester United.

Rudiger, who moved from Roma to Chelsea in 2017 at a fee of $40 million, is hesitating to sign an extension with Chelsea as he is demanding a huge offer from the Blues because he believes he should be considered more important in Europe than he is at present, according to soccer website Football Espana.

It was previously reported that Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel had personally requested the management to speed up Rudiger’s contract extension work as the German center-back is attracting attention from other top European clubs including Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). Apart from the French club and Real Madrid, other clubs that are interested in securing Rudiger’s services are Juventus and Bayern Munich.

Tuchel, who replaced Frank Lampard in the middle of the 2020-21 campaign, turned Rudiger’s career around at Chelsea. After struggling under the management of Lampard, Rudiger had finished the season as Tuchel’s second-most used player after club captain Cesar Azpilicueta.

It has also been reported that Chelsea are planning to sign Villarreal defender Pau Torres, who is considered as an ideal replacement for Ramos at Real Madrid.