Paddy Kenny insists Tottenham could be an ideal place for Antonio Rudiger to continue his career if he fails to agree on an extension with Chelsea.
Antonio Rudiger’s future seems away from Chelsea as the club and the player have failed to agree on new terms, with his current contract expiring in the summer. The German defender was reportedly ‘insulted’ by Chelsea’s latest offer, which has fueled speculation of an imminent departure from Stamford Bridge.
Despite becoming the most important piece of Thomas Tuchel’s backline, Rudiger’s salary demands are proving a problem for Chelsea to fulfil. Recent reports have linked the centre-back with a move to Real Madrid, who are reportedly willing to match his wage demands.
However, rather surprisingly, Tottenham have emerged as contenders for the German star, with Antonio Conte seeking a top-notch centre-back. While the north Londoners may not be considered in the same breath as a Real Madrid, Bayern Munich or even Chelsea, the Italian manager’s arrival has certainly raised their profile.
Chelsea could lose Rudiger in the summer on a free transfer if he runs down his existing contract at the club. He will be able to sign a pre-contract agreement with clubs outside of England in January or wait it out and join a Premier League side at the end of the current campaign.
Paddy Kenny has made a case for Tottenham, suggesting the north Londoners should find it easy to sign the Chelsea defender. He explained to Football Insider why it should be a straightforward deal, explaining the player is settled in London.
Kenny said, “That seems like an easy deal to do for me. He lives in London, he’s probably settled in the UK, and he knows Conte. He’s also on a free, so Tottenham won’t have to shell out on anything other than wages. Spurs also need a centre-half badly. The goal they conceded to West Ham the other night came from sloppy play at the back. “
“Rudiger has been brilliant this season, and he has so much experience. He’s still a Germany international. They need to strengthen that area, and Rudiger looks like an ideal target. Obviously it’s up to him. He might want to go abroad and have a better chance of winning trophies. We don’t know. But Spurs are a club on the up, I can see it happening.”
Whether Tottenham will be able to sign Rudiger and rub salt into Chelsea’s wounds remains to be seen. As things stand, the German international is increasingly closer to leaving Chelsea as a free agent than signing a brand new contract.
