No Blues supporter wishes to see Antonio Rudiger depart, but with his contract set to expire at the end of the season – and talks to extend still deadlocked – the only practical option may be to look for a replacement.
Football bettors are already placing bets on https://www.mightytips.com/bookmakers/new-zealand-betting-sites/ regarding where Rudiger will end up by the time his contract expires in June. If you are considering placing such bets too, you may want to check up on the opinions of top tipsters like Kate Richardson as this may help you maximize your bets.
According to sources, Chelsea is still interested in extending Rudiger’s contract, but his reported wage demands (over £200,000 per week) have thwarted any progress. Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain are keeping a close eye on the January transfer market, which opens on January 1st, 2022.
Although the German issued an update regarding his current situation in August, and it appeared to be good news for Chelsea fans, as the former Roma man announced that he had begun negotiations about extending his contract. However, nothing has materialized since then, and Chelsea fans are getting prepared for the worst.
Rudiger remains an important part of Chelsea’s set-up, and while most Blues supporters would no doubt love to see Antonio Rudiger stay at the club, it looks like the Londoners need to find a replacement for him in the summer. These are the likely candidates to replace the powerful German should he leave.
1. Jules Kounde, Sevilla
Jules Kounde of Sevilla is the first and most apparent choice to replace the star defender. During the summer transfer window, Chelsea was extensively linked with a move for Kounde, but no deal was struck, with a report late in August claiming that Sevilla sought more money than the capital club was ready to give.
However, with Chelsea’s need for a central defender intensifying and Kounde’s performances continuing to impress, the 23-year-old might be sought again in the near future. This season, Kounde has made 18 appearances for the Spanish side and is one of the big reasons why they have the strongest defense in La Liga.
2. Pau Torres, Villarreal
Pau Torres, a La Liga center-back, is another player Chelsea might consider replacing Rudiger with. Torres was reportedly a target for Chelsea’s London rivals, Tottenham this summer. As confirmed by the Daily Mail, and popular football Twitter handles like the Daily Hotspur, the player claimed that he turned down the transfer because the attraction of playing in the Champions League with Villarreal was too strong.
Villarreal, on the other hand, languishing in 13th in the La Liga standings this season, and are unlikely to qualify for the Champions League again. Could this make a move for Torres much simpler for a Chelsea team that is nearly guaranteed to compete in Europe’s most prestigious club championship next season?
Torres would make a perfect addition to Thomas Tuchel’s squad. Like Rudiger, the 23-year-old is well-suited to playing with the ball at his feet, and he also brings a muscular presence, similar to what the highly-rated German defenders currently offer the Blues. Also, since Rudiger is usually on the left side of Tuchel’s back three, Torres being a natural left-footer is certainly a significant benefit.
3. Alessio Romagnoli, AC Milan
Alessio Romagnoli is another player Chelsea may be interested in signing. The Italian is now with AC Milan, but his contract expires in the summer, so he may be a good alternative for Chelsea if they don’t want to spend a lot of money on a Rudiger replacement.
Romagnoli isn’t as quick as Rudiger and won’t be able to match his old Roma teammate’s marauding runs from deep for the Blues. But, the 26-year-old is a seasoned, powerful presence who will almost certainly provide leadership to Chelsea’s backline.
4. Niklas Sule, Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich is keeping an eye on Antonio Rudiger’s departure from Stamford Bridge, while Chelsea is keeping an eye on Niklas Sule’s departure from the Allianz Arena. Both teams appear to be in the same boat, with their respective center-backs unwilling to extend or renew their contracts.
With Sule’s contract set to expire at the end of the season, this may be Thomas Tuchel’s most cost-effective way of replacing Rudiger. Sule will be able to negotiate with and sign a pre-contract agreement with any team he wants once January arrives. However, the German international has been a steady presence in Bayern’s defense, and Julian Nagelsmann is reluctant to let him go, especially on a free transfer.
5. Alessandro Bastoni, Inter Milan
Chelsea striker, Romelu Lukaku is said to have suggested former colleagues Alessandro Bastoni and Milan Skriniar to the club’s administration, according to sources in Italy. While the Blues are unlikely to sign both center-backs from the reigning Italian champions, they will be forced to make a decision on which one to go for should they decide to follow their striker’s recommendations.
Inter only lost three Serie A games last season, and only allowed 35 goals in 38 games. The Italian giants also had the greatest defensive record in the league, thanks in large part to Skriniar and Bastoni’s defensive excellence. With Chelsea’s deep finances, signing Alessandro Bastoni, 22, rather than Skriniar, 26, as a long-term successor to Rudiger should be a no-brainer.
The young Italian international has shown that he can compete at the top level and will have no trouble settling in at Stamford Bridge. However, bending the Nerazzurri’s will to Chelsea’s in the transfer market may require a big bid.
6. Matthijs de Ligt, Juventus
To secure the deal of the Dutch defender, Chelsea would have to spend a large amount of money. De Ligt joined Juventus from Ajax in 2019 for £68.5 million, but it has been suggested that the Serie A giants might be prepared to sell the 22-year-old. “De Ligt might possibly leave Juventus at the conclusion of the season,” his agent, Mino Raiola warned earlier this season.
The Netherlands international might have better passing and distribution compared to Rudiger, and if he can fit into the Premier League life, he’ll be a big addition.
7. Marquinhos, Paris Saint-Germain
During Thomas Tuchel’s two years as coach of Paris Saint-Germain, he worked with a Marquinhos and Thiago Silva defensive pairing. While the Parisians are unlikely to allow Marquinhos to depart, Chelsea will strive to bring the PSG star back together with his old center-back partner and boss.
During the last transfer window, the Parisian club allegedly turned down an £86 million approach from the Blues for Marquinhos. If the 27-year-old Brazilian international is serious about landing a lucrative transfer to the Premier League, Stamford Bridge may be his next stop.
Conclusion
Rudiger has had an excellent career in Chelsea, and should he leave, these are the top choices the West Londoners will want to replace him with. You can wager on these transfers, and read further predictions and tips from tipsters on what can be expected in the transfer window. You can also take a look at sites like Skip the games Bellingham for more tips.
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