Real Madrid closing in on Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger, Spanish media claims

Real Madrid have a verbal agreement with Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger following a lack of progress with contract talks in west London, Spanish media has claimed.

The German defender’s contract runs out at the end of the season, and despite efforts from both parties to extend his stay there has been little progress.

Now some of the big clubs in Europe are circling for his signature.

The European Champions are heading towards a crucial period of the season with players like Andreas Christensen, Cesar Azpilicueta and Rudiger all yet to make a breakthrough in new contract talks.

Unconfirmed reports say Rudiger is holding out for around £250,000 a week, which will make him one of the highest earners at the club and in the Premier League.

Spanish daily football newspaper Marca has reported that Real Madrid are close to poaching the German centre-back.

LondonWorld understands that Los Blancos have a verbal agreement with Rudiger, however his preference remains to stay in west London.

Jérôme Boateng recently claimed Rudiger was the best defender in the world, while his manager Thomas Tuchel has echoed his desire to keep the tough tackling defender at the club.

The 28-year-old has taken his game to the next level since the arrival of Thomas Tuchel, and was a big part of the Champions League-winning campaign last season.

There has been little sign that Rudiger’s form has dropped despite the revolving contract situation, but the defender will be able to speak to other teams from January 1.

He was at his best over the weekend, winning two penalties to get his team out of jail against Leeds United in the Premier League.

Crucially, it was his late penalty that Jorginho scored which gave the Blues all three points on the day.

It will be a big blow for Chelsea to lose a player who is not only crucial on the pitch but also a big personality in the dressing room.

The Blues were in the market for Sevilla’s French defender Jules Koundé, and 37-year-old defender Thiago Silva is also expected to extend his time at the Bridge for another season.

Chelsea have been paired against French champions Lille in the round of 16 of this season’s UEFA Champions League, with Thomas Tuchels’s side favourite to progress to the quarter-final stage of the competition.

In other news, the Premier League is preparing for more Covid-19 cases after a total of 42 players tested positive in the latest testing within clubs.

Games involving Manchester United, Tottenham, Brighton Hove and Albion and Brentford have had to be rescheduled due to increasing number of cases within the teams.