Antonio Rudiger ‘snubs new Chelsea contract despite offer close to £200k a week’ as star closes in on free transfer exit

CHELSEA centre-back Antonio Rudiger has reportedly rebuffed Chelsea's latest attempts to keep him at the club.

Rudiger is out of contract at the end of the season, and has been strongly linked with a move away.

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Despite not tabling an official contract offer, the report that Chelsea have informally offered Rudiger a new deal worth close to £200,000 per week.

But the German international is said to have turned his nose up at that number.

That's after rejecting the club's original £140,000-per-week offer earlier in the season.

The 28-year-olds star currently earns £100,000 per week, but wants a significant increase that reflects his contributions on the pitch.

But it's claimed Chelsea are struggling to put together a deal that meets his requirements.

Chelsea are desperate for their star defender to extend his stay at the club - but the potential of pocketing up to £400,000 a week by signing for a team on a free transfer could prove too tempting for Rudiger to ignore.

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Both Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain have already tabled pre-contract offers to the German.

Negotiations with overseas clubs have been permitted since January 1.

Manchester United are also thought to be monitoring Rudiger's situation with keen interest.

Rudiger and Chelsea are eager to find a resolution to the stand-off, with the Blues still 'optimistic' that a deal can be struck.

But they're going to need to up their offer again for Rudiger to finally put pen to paper.

The European Champions are also facing the prospect of losing two more defenders, Andreas Christensen and club captain Cesar Azpilicueta, in the summer.

The defensive trio are all out of contract at the end of the season, with none of them yet to pen an extension.

Azpilicueta is a target for Barcelona on a free transfer, while Christensen has been linked with Borussia Dortmund.

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