Chelsea superstar in talks with Manchester City over a move next summer

Chelsea's German head coach Thomas Tuchel (L) and Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola (R) bump fists ahead of the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on May 8, 2021. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Shaun Botterill / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by SHAUN BOTTERILL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

In an interview with Wetten Freunde, famous Italian transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio has claimed that Manchester City are among a few clubs in talks with Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger over a potential free transfer next summer.

Antonio Rudiger, 28, has entered the final year of his contract at Chelsea. He has already turned down a new contract worth £125,000 per week and the defender will be free to sign a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club from January 1.

Talks between the west London club and the German international over a contract extension have reached an impasse. Rudiger is open to staying at Stamford Bridge and Chelsea are keen to keep him but the two parties seem to be way off in terms of agreeing on a salary, with the Daily Mail claiming the 28-year-old is holding at £400,000 per week—which would make him the highest-paid player at the club.

With Rudiger frustrated having seen his exorbitant demands not being met by Chelsea so far, the centre-back’s entourage have now begun talks with Premier League duo Manchester City and Tottenham, as well as Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus over a free transfer next summer, Di Marzio states.

"“Rudiger is in talks with Juventus, Man City, Tottenham and even PSG who still need a defender. It’s difficult for him to sign a new contract. He will join one of the 4 named teams,” Di Marzio told Wetten Freunde."

Source: Wetten Freunde

Rudiger has been one of the most consistent defenders in the Premier League since Thomas Tuchel arrived at Chelsea. He played a key role in the Blues’ Champions League triumph in May, helping Tuchel’s side beat Manchester City 1-0 in the final in Portugal.

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For a Premier League defender who is playing some of the best football of his career, it is not surprising to see Manchester City interested in his signature. However, the Sky Blues are well-stocked in the centre-back department, which begs the question—does Pep Guardiola need another defender in Rudiger?

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