Transfer News: 29-year-old Chelsea star in talks to join Serie A giants this summer

Transfer News: Chelsea centre-back Antonio Rudiger is in talks with Juventus over a free transfer in the summer

According to Italian publication Calciomercato (h/t Football London), German defender Antonio Rudiger is in talks with Juventus over a free transfer in the summer

Rudiger is out of contract at the end of this season and is yet to renew a new deal with the Blues. Chelsea are banned from making contract renewals as of now after club owner Roman Abramovich saw his assets frozen by the UK Government and placed on the sanctions list.

With the future of the Blues defender far from certain at Stamford Bridge, the 29-year-old is apparently exploring other options, with a move to Turin being touted.

Rudiger has been an ever-present for Thomas Tuchel this season and is one of the most important players in the Blues team. Chelsea’s immense Premier League defensive record is the second-best in England this season, and the German international has been one of the pillars behind it.

Chelsea will not be wanting to lose the talented German but considering the precarious situation they find themselves in, they may not have a choice. Hopefully, it does not come to that. But even before this situation with our owner, there was barely any solid indication that he would renew his deal with us.

What if Rudiger leaves?

Rudiger is not the only centre back exit on the cards for the Blues this season, with Andreas Christensen and Cesar Azpilicueta also expected to leave the club on free transfers.

This will leave the Chelsea squad extremely short of centre backs with Trevoh Chalobah and Thiago Silva the only options left. Chelsea may need to plunge into the market for quality replacements but with an ownership change on the cards, there is no idea on what is possible.

With a potential mass defensive exodus on the cards, Tuchel could have to be adept at procuring the requirements he wants and be clever in the transfer market.

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It may all depend on who the new owners are at Stamford Bridge and what kind of ideas they come in with- if we have a new owner at all. The upcoming transfer window could turn out to be pivotal in how Chelsea’s season shapes up next year.