Transfer News: Chelsea ace Antonio Rudiger confirms he came close to Tottenham switch

Speaking to the news media ahead of Chelsea’s UCL clash against Atletico Madrid (h/t Football.london), German international Antonio Rudiger has revealed that he came close to completing a transfer to Tottenham last summer.

Rudiger has been with Chelsea since 2017, having arrived from Italian giants AS Roma. However, the defender had fallen out of favour under Frank Lampard and was largely relegated to bench duties. The summer arrival of Thiago Silva only complicated his situation, leading to him pushing for an exit.

And, Tottenham were one of the clubs who were said to be keen on signing him. Spurs were in the market for defensive reinforcements after Jan Vertonghen had left upon the expiry of his contract. And Rudiger was one among the names that Jose Mourinho considered bringing in. (h/t Sky Sports)

Rudiger, now, has opened up on the situation, confirming that Tottenham were indeed keen on signing him up in the last summer window.

“I was close [to leaving] there were two teams that maybe one I was considering was PSG and then there was Mourinho. I had a chat with Lampard and then I was back on the bench.”

However, a move never materialised and Tottenham instead signed youngster Joe Rodon from EFL Championship side Swansea City. Rudiger, meanwhile, continued to struggle for game-time at Chelsea, but that has changed since Lampard’s sacking the subsequent appointment of Thomas Tuchel.

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Under Tuchel, Rudiger has been a permanent fixture in the Chelsea defence, helping them on a remarkable 12-game unbeaten run. This only goes on to show that he could have been a very shrewd addition to the Tottenham squad in the summer.

Rodon, meanwhile, hasn’t been afforded many opportunities by Mourinho, with the youngster still very much on the fringes.