Real Madrid do not plan to sign Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger whose agent is using the link with La Liga club to get a huge signing bonus, according to Spanish publication ABC.
The report claims Real Madrid are currently content with their centre-back pairing; David Alaba and Eder Militao, and are not looking to bring in another senior defender to their squad.
Instead, Real Madrid are reportedly looking for a young defender who will train under both Alaba and Militao.
Interestingly, ABC further added that the Spanish club feel they are being used by Rudiger’s half-brother and agent, Sahr Senesie, who is currently looking for a last big contract for his client.
Senesie is said to have been using Real Madrid’s name to get Rudiger a big contract and a signing-on fee worth €20million (£16.8m) once he becomes a free agent at the end of the season.
The report claims Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich are interested in Rudiger. The former, in particular, has reportedly put a lot of effort into securing the Germany international’s signature.
This, of course, contradicts earlier reports from various sources, including The Telegraph’s Matt Law who claims Real Madrid were convinced that Rudiger would join them.
Rudiger, whose contract with Chelsea ends in the summer, is now legally able to speak to other clubs over a potential pre-contract.
The Blues will still be able to offer him a new contract, and a recent report from AS suggested they will, but it is safe to say that Chelsea are not in a strong position to negotiate terms.
Fellow Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen, who has been linked with a free transfer move to Barcelona, is in a similar situation to Rudiger.