Transfer News: Tottenham plot Chelsea raid for Antonio Rudiger
According to transfer news from the Mirror (h/t Express), Tottenham Hotspur are plotting a summer raid on London rivals Chelsea for the signing of defender Antonio Rudiger.
Rudiger has been with Chelsea since the summer of 2017 having signed from Italian outfit AS Roma. Having been a regular in his first two years at the club, the German international was in and out of the lineup under Frank Lampard during the 2019/20 term. The 28-year-old was completely out of favour in the first half of the season as well.
However, following the sacking of Lampard in January, Rudiger was reintegrated back into the side by new manager Thomas Tuchel and enjoyed a great resurgence. Indeed, the German centre-back was one of the top players in the second half of the campaign for the Blues as they went on to lift the UEFA Champions League.
And even though he has enjoyed a resurgent run at the club, Tottenham Hotspur are now lining up a shock swoop for Rudiger this summer. Spurs had been linked with a move for the 28-year-old last year as well but a move failed to materialise. However, the club had continued to keep tabs on the German with ex-boss Jose Mourinho keen on signing him. (h/t Express)
And, even though the Portuguese is not at the club anymore, Tottenham have continued their interest in the German and will look to make a move for him before the next season. (h/t Express)
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Rudiger is set to enter the final year of his contract with Chelsea this summer. Talks over a new deal are yet to be hold and are likely to be postponed until he returns from the Euros. (h/t Express)
Tottenham are in need of defensive reinforcements but a move for Rudiger seems unlikely, given that the player has previously admitted that he wouldn’t want to spoil his relationship with the Chelsea supporters by making the jump to a London rival.
