Chelsea send scouts to watch £30m Roma defender Antonio Rudiger face England for Germany tonight
Manchester clubs also lie in wait but the Blues aim to get in first for player tired of racial abuse in Italy
ROMA defender Antonio Rudiger faces England tonight with Chelsea scouts poised to monitor his every move.
The Blues are very interested in the 24-year-old and are planning on making a £30million swoop this summer.
They face competition from Manchester United and neighbours City but it is understood Chelsea have a head start over their Premier League rivals.
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The Italian club formerly offered Rudiger in a swap deal for Cesc Fabregas.
It means Rudiger could soon be lining up with Three Lions and Chelsea centre half Gary Cahill, and taking on the players he's up against in the friendly international in Dortmund on a regular basis.
It is thought he will start at centre-back, his preferred role - though he can also play at right-back.
Rudiger has sadly been in the news for all the wrong reasons this season as a victim of racial abuse.
He is keen to quit Italy for England this summer following two particular incidents.
Rudiger was subjected to taunts from Lazio fans in the Rome derby earlier this month when the stadium announcer had to plea for calm.
That followed Lazio left-back Senad Lulic making racial remarks about Rudiger following Roma’s 2-0 win in December.
Friends say he was deeply upset by both incidents and would welcome a move to England.