European giants keen on signing Chelsea star who is surplus to requirements

Barcelona and Roma are interested in Chelsea outcast Antonio Rudiger

According to German publication kicker (h/t Daily Mail), Barcelona and Roma are keeping tabs on Chelsea outcast Antonio Rudiger.

The 27-year-old was not selected in the Chelsea squad for the Carabao Cup third round fixture against Barnsley. The defender has now been left out of the matchday squad for two consecutive games.

With the arrival of Thiago Silva, Rudiger is effectively the fifth-choice centre-back at Stamford Bridge.

Rudiger’s change in fortunes has arrived mere weeks after he looked to be receiving a contract extension. His predicament has alerted both Barcelona and Roma, who are keen to sign him.

They are not the only teams in the fray. Ligue 1 champions PSG are also keen on taking the player on a season-long loan.

Despite falling down the pecking order at Chelsea, Rudiger is held in high regard across the continent.

The German international joined Chelsea from Roma in 2017. While he has been a regular feature, injuries and inconsistency have seen him struggle.

The player for his part is keen to play regularly. With the Euros coming up next summer, he cannot afford to play a peripheral role at club level this season.

With Fabrizio Romano confirming that the Blues are keen to keep Fikayo Tomori at the club, it would appear that Rudiger will be the one to be loaned out.

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Rudiger played a key role in Chelsea’s pursuit of Timo Werner and Kai Havertz this summer. While he is yet to play a role on the pitch, he has done his bit for us off it.