According to reports from The Express this afternoon, Stuttgart defender Antonio Rudiger is desperate to join Premier League champions Chelsea this summer.
The 22 year-old has performed well since moving to the Mercedes Benz Arena from the Borussia Dortmund academy in 2008, registering 66 Bundesliga appearances following his 2011 debut.
And the 6 foot 3 centre-back’s rise has attracted interest from the Premier League, with Manchester United allegedly launching an enquiry into his availability last summer – as claimed by The Independent.
He’s also a notorious Arsenal fan, but Chelsea appear to be the most proactive in courting his signature. According to reports from The Express in May, the Premier League champions are considering activating a £7million clause in German international’s contract – only available to big clubs and due to expire in 2017.
Manager Jose Mourinho has since revealed he intends to sign a defender this summer, as reported by The Daily Star, putting Rudiger in the frame.
And according to reports from The Express this afternoon, who cite German publication BILD, Rudiger has now requested brother and agent Sahr Senesie do whatever he can to force through a move to Stamford Bridge.