Chelsea’s charismatic centre-back, Antonio Rudiger is close to completing a move to Real Madrid on a free transfer this summer.
This deal had looked to be off the table when his initial salary demands were 12 million euros (roughly 10.1 million pounds) per season.
However, the fact that the leading European clubs were unwilling to pay these wages led the 29-year-old to reduce his demands considerably.
As a result, Real Madrid have positioned themselves as the clear favourites for Rudiger’s signature, and he looks set to arrive at the club this summer to reinforce their options in central defence.
Negotiations have taken place in recent days and a deal that had looked impossible is now close to being agreed.
Real Madrid want to offer Rudiger a four-year deal, and the deal could be agreed as early as this week, although it will not be made official until the end of the season.
The necessity of this signing has become clear in recent weeks, firstly due to the club’s lack of top-level options at centre-back.
Whilst Carlo Ancelotti has three excellent centre-halves in David Alaba, Eder Militao and Nacho Fernandez, Jesus Vallejo is not in his plans and Dani Carvajal had to fill in there against Chelsea.
Also, Rudiger’s stunning performance at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu convinced the club to sign him this summer, and a deal is imminent.
On Sunday, following Chelsea’s 1-0 win against West Ham United, Thomas Tuchel confirmed that Rudiger will be leaving the club at the end of the season.
“The situation is that he wants to leave the club. He informed me of this in a private talk,” Tuchel said.
“We gave everything – me and the club – but we could not fight anymore because of the sanctions.
“Without the sanctions we would at least be able to carry on fighting, but our hands are tied. We don’t take it personally. It is his decision.”
