According to reports from The Express this morning, Chelsea are considering a summer bid for Stuttgart defender Antonio Rudiger.
The 22 year-old’s excellent performances helped Die Roten stave off relegation from the Bundesliga this season, averaging an impressive 1.7 tackles, 5.3 clearances and 3.1 successful aerial duels per match from 19 league appearances.
Despite John Terry and Gary Cahill making the PFA Team of the Year, Jose Mourinho wants to improve the depth of his defence this summer and Rudiger’s age, potential and versatility (being also capable of playing at right-back) make him the perfect candidate.
The German international, who has claimed five caps since his Mannschaft debut in May 2014, has a £7million release clause in his contract – only available to major clubs – that The Express claim Chelsea are prepared to activate.
But Rudiger is no stranger to the Premier League’s gossip columns; Manchester United and West Ham have both been linked to the 6 foot 3 centre-half in recent times and last summer the Stuttgart starlet revealed he was ‘aware’ of the Old Trafford outfit’s interest in him – as reported by Sky Sports in August 2014.
Whether today’s reports will oblige the Red Devils to revive their interest remains to be seen.