Chelsea begin talks with Rudiger over new contract

Antonio Rudiger is set to be rewarded for his impressive displays over the past 12 months and is now in line for a new contract at Chelsea.

The German defender’s story is one that tells the tale of how things can change so much in such a short time. Just last October, he was on the verge of being loaned out by the club. He was reportedly not in the plans of then-manager Frank Lampard. However, Chelsea planned to extend his contract before letting him leave the club at the time. The trio of AC Milan, PSG and Tottenham were the interested names at the time.

However, Rudiger decided to remain at Chelsea and fight for a spot in theng XI. Things changed for the better, following the appointment of fellow countryman Thomas Tuchel. The 28-year-old has now proven to be a key cog in the Chelsea defence and was highly instrumental in their run to win the 2020/21 Champions League.

New breath of fresh air for Rudiger

It is not a surprise Chelsea are trying to make such a move, given that Rudiger remains one of the most experienced defenders in their ranks.

Also, the player is coming towards the end of his contract, which is set to expire in the summer of 2022. As part of his contract details, he is allowed to sign a pre-agreement with any European clubng January 2021 if he so pleases.

According to Sky Sports, Rudiger and his representatives will be willing to listen and discuss all the options on the table regarding a contract renewal.

However, the same report adds that the German defender will still consider all of the offers from all over before making a final decision on what step to make.

It remains to be seen how that plays out but the report adds that Chelsea are optimistic they will get their man to sign a new deal in due time.

Win-win situation for all parties

In retrospect, a new deal for Rudiger is one that benefits all parties. On the part of the defender, he is in the last ‘big contract’ stage of his career and there is no better club than one where he has chances to win trophies like Chelsea. On the part of the club, they will be keeping a defender who has ample experience and can still offer a good number of years at the top level.

With Kurt Zouma looking likely to leave for West Ham and Jules Kounde possibly coming in, Rudiger can headline the defence and form the base of the leadership unit.

In summary, it benefits both the player and club.