Transfer Rumors: Manchester City, Tottenham Leading Free Transfer Move For Chelsea Center-Back

Unless Chelsea pulls some strings and hands Antonio Rudiger a fresh lease, the 28-year-old center-back is as good as gone in June.

Despite the German airing his preference to stay at Stamford Bridge, the Blues have yet to hand Rudiger a new deal.

His current contract will expire in June. If no new deal is set, he will find himself playing for a new club and the player is not short on options.

According to Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, Manchester City and Tottenham have already started talks with the German footballer in what could be a potential free transfer move.

However, the Sky Blues and Spurs are not the only ones keeping tabs on the Rudiger situation.

Paris Saint- Germain, Juventus and Bayern Munich are other teams who have a keen interest in acquiring Rudiger once his current contract expires, SI.com reported.

Despite the interest of multiple teams, Rudiger insisted that he is happy playing under Thomas Tuchel at Stamford Bridge.

Furthermore, he made it clear that any decision he may make once his contract is over will be entirely up to him.

But as far as the money on the table, Chelsea and Rudiger appear £50,000 ($69,000) apart. He wants a £200,000 ($276,000)-a-week dea, while the Blues are only willing to offer at most £150,000 ($207,000)-a week.

The potential pitch of teams in the hunt for Rudiger’s services was not mentioned, but the rumored demands of the German will serve as a barometer.

By January 1 of next year, Rudiger can start talking to other clubs if no deal is finalized with Chelsea.

But this early, critics see it unlikely that the German center-back will stay at Stamford Bridge beyond next summer.