Transfer Rumors: Antonio Rudiger Remains Satisfied With Chelsea Amid Contract Disputes

Chelsea’s Antonio Rudiger has shown no indications that he wants to leave the club according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.

“Chelsea is still negotiating with Toni Rudiger agents over [a] new contract,” Romano wrote on Twitter.

“Talks ongoing--there’s no agreement on salary, but it’s not over as Rudiger is so happy with Chelsea and (Thomas) Tuchel.”

Both the club and Rudiger have been keen on trying to work out an extension as the player has played a major role in manager Thomas Tuchel’s system at Stamford Bridge.

It was reported in mid-September that the two sides have always been close to making a deal, the only sticking point being that of Rudiger’s weekly wages.

Chelsea has been trying to convince Rudiger to sign an extension that would give him a weekly salary of £140,000 ($193,81) as they hope to keep an integral part of their team before his contract expires next summer.

It is widely believed that the 28-year-old thinks that his next contract will be his last big payday as he slowly creeps to age 30.

Should Rudiger decide not to re-sign, he is more than free to talk to other clubs during the January transfer window as he searches for a new club.

Romano also reported that there are two major clubs interested in stealing Rudiger away from Chelsea.

“FC Bayern (Munich) and Real Madrid are interested in case he’ll be a free agent,” Romano said in the same tweet.

A move to either club makes sense for the high-IQ defender as they could certainly use the boost.

Chelsea knows that losing Rudiger next summer will force them to search the transfer market for a new defender, hampering their pursuit of Borussia Dortmund prodigy Erling Haaland.

Tuchel stressed in mid-September that he hopes both sides can come to a deal soon and that he is not worried about extension talks falling through.

“He has played excellently since a long time and is very consistent on a high level,” said Tuchel.

“We are in good hands, I am calm and relaxed, whatever has to happen will happen."

The Stamford Bridge side’s most recent fixture was a loss to Juventus in a UEFA Champions League match after the defense allowed a Federico Chiesa goal ten seconds into the second half.