Transfer News: Cash rich PL rivals to pursue 29-year-old Chelsea defensive ace

Newcastle United have entered the race to sign Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger

According to The Telegraph (Subscription Required), Newcastle United are interested in signing Chelsea star Antonio Rudiger whose current contract at Stamford Bridge expires at the end of the season.

The 29-year-old has been a dependable figure in the backline at Stamford Bridge and has played a pivotal role under manager Thomas Tuchel. The German international has been attracting a lot of interest and the likes of Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, and Manchester United have also been linked with the player in recent times.

Rudiger has played 188 matches across all competitions for the Blues to date. During that time he has scored 10 goals and provided seven assists for the West-London club. His aerial dominance and physical prowess make him a sturdy presence at the back.

The former AS Roma defender has a substantial amount of experience at the elite level having won the FIFA Clubs World Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup as well as the FA Cup with the Blues. This experience could prove instrumental for the Magpies who would be looking to take their game to the next level after making a significant splash in the January transfer window.

The possibility of a defensive exodus at Chelsea

Whilst there is a looming sense of uncertainty regarding the future of Rudiger at the club, Cesar Azpilicueta and Andreas Christensen are also out of contract with the West Londoners in June. It is being understood that the duo could be making their way to Barcelona who are confident about signing the centre-backs.

The loss of any of these senior defenders could be a big blow for the club, especially on a free transfer. Whilst Trevoh Chalobah has shown immense potential, he is yet to reach the level where he can be expected to hold the fort.

Thiago Silva has also managed to anchor the backline quite expertly but at 37, one has to wonder whether the Brazilian will be able to fill in every week given the tough schedule that Chelsea has to face throughout the campaign. The club could therefore do themselves a favour by adding another young sturdy defender in their ranks sooner rather than later.

There has also been a lot of commotion considering that Roman Abramovich has ended his association with the Blues. This has also brought a lot of uncertainty and we would have to see how the new owners would tackle this situation. Whilst there is nothing concrete, Chelsea could do well to prepare for life without Rudiger.

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Only time can tell us what will be the German International’s next footballing destination. That being said, the 29-year-old has rarely let any of the off-field chatter affect his performances in recent time, and the fans should have no qualms as to his determination and hunger on the pitch.