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Chelsea star Antonio Rudiger ‘willing to listen to transfer offers in January before deciding whether to quit on FREE’
CHELSEA star Antonio Rudiger is reportedly willing to listen to other offers in January before deciding whether to quit Stamford Bridge on a FREE at the end of the season.
The 48-cap Germany international is free to begin contract talks with foreign clubs from January 1.
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Talks with Chelsea have stalled after the centre-back was reportedly disappointed with their opening offer.
And he is now keen to keep his options open and will listen to offers from abroad in the new year, according to .
Despite his willingness to receive alternative options, a Chelsea stay beyond the end of the season is still said to be a possibility.
Rudiger's Blues contract expires at the end of the campaign and can leave for nothing if he does not sign a new contract with the West Londoners.
The Blues want to tie their star defender down to a new deal, but contract talks have been placed 'on hold' until at least January.
Rudiger is reportedly holding out for an eyewatering £400,000-a-week - £50k more than top earner Romelu Lukaku.
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Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Tottenham are all said to be keen on the defender.
And Rudiger admitted he is honoured by Bayern's interest.
When Bayern boss Julian Nagelsmann was asked recently about Rudiger, he said: "In principle I am no fan of talking about players who are under contract with other clubs while we are outside the transfer window.
"But I'm talking about Rudiger as a football fan. He has made fantastic progress.
"Thomas Tuchel has handled him extremely well since taking charge. He was previously on the scrapheap at Chelsea.
"But now he is one of the most important members of their defence. He has incredibly good fighting spirit, and is a very good defender.
"I always think it's great when a player lives up to his job description - and that is always the case with Toni."
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Since moving to Stamford Bridge in 2017 for £31m, Rudiger has won the Champions League, the FA Cup, the Europa League and the UEFA Super Cup.
He's also turned out 159 times during his four years at Stamford Bridge and has established himself as one of the first names on Tuchel's team sheet.
Rudiger has played 90 minutes in all seven of Chelsea's Premier League games so far this season, helping the Blues to the top of the table.
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