Transfer News: Antonio Rudiger makes new wage demand to stay at Chelsea
According to Marca (h/t Football.London), Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger has put forth a new demand for a bumper wage package in order to stay at the club beyond this summer.
For the last few seasons, Antonio Rudiger has been at the heart of Chelsea’s defensive line. On top of being a solid defender at the back, the German has even scored some vital goals in this campaign. Furthermore, he has effectively been our only senior centre-back who has been available for selection throughout this season.
His role in our UEFA Champions League triumph last season was telling and despite having a slow start to his career in West London, the ex-AS Roma man is now considered as one of the top defenders in the English top division.
It is obvious that Rudiger is a valuable asset for the team, but is he worth £400,000-a-week? – That is, after all, the supposed wage package he asked for earlier this season. If that was true, then those figures are certainly exorbitant for a defender who turns 29 this March.
What next for Rudiger?
Now, it is believed that Rudiger has put forth a new demand and is currently seeking a contract worth £46million – £180,000-per-week if the Blues board makes it a five-year deal, and £220,000-per-week for a four-year contract.
Rudiger, no doubt, has developed himself into one of the top defenders in the Premier League. On top of that, despite having a contract stand-off, his commitment to our team hasn’t decreased. In fact, he has come up with match-winning performances this season and continues to give it his all on the pitch for us.
If our board decides to sell Rudiger and look for alternatives, finding a quality replacement wouldn’t be easy. We currently have Trevoh Chalobah coming through our ranks but with Thiago Silva not getting any younger and us losing Fikayo Tomori and Marc Guehi this summer, selling Rudiger would certainly warrant a replacement at the back.
The board would, therefore, be wise to consider Rudiger’s demands. We are one of the top clubs in Europe and can certainly move on a few players in order to free our books for meeting the German’s salary package. It is something that remains to be seen, but it is surely a viable option.
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Tying him down on a new deal would be a big boost for the squad. Central defenders retain their defensive knowledge and know-how even into their early 30s so it is not like we’re offering a new deal to a defender who is on the wane in any sense of that word.
