Report: Chelsea have accepted that one member of Tuchel’s squad will not be at Stamford Bridge next season

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Chelsea are readying themselves for life without Antonio Rudiger as it seems certain the centre-back will leave the club in 2022.

This is coming from the lips of 90min, who claim the Blues have now accepted the defender’s departure from Stamford Bridge.

More pocket money

The German international’s contract expires next summer and in order to renew it, he has asked for a salary increase.

A pretty reasonable request, considering the 28-year-old’s powerful rise to one of the Premier League’s finest protectors under Thomas Tuchel

Whilst the chain of command did offer a high wage, it fell way short of the player’s expectations.

Due to this disparity between the two parties, the likelihood of Rudiger leaving is extremely high.

A scenario that Chelsea’s chain of command have seemingly acknowledged as a definite outcome.

Their loss will undoubtedly be someone else’s gain.

What’s not to like?

Rudiger is a rock in a defence, who loves a bone-tingling tackle as much as a mazy dribble upfield.

He combines brains, brawn and a sprinkling of insanity to make up the near-perfect centre-half.

Any team would be lucky to have him within their ranks.

The list of those vying to make him their own stretches as far as the eye can see.

90min say that Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are jostling for Rudiger’s signature, although he is unlikely to join a Premier League rival.

Further afield, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus and Inter Milan have apparently expressed their intrigue.

Plenty of choices on the table, but can Chelsea fend them off and retrace their Rudiger steps?

We certainly hope so.

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