{"id":587252,"date":"2021-03-19T17:01:39","date_gmt":"2021-03-19T21:01:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/?p=587252"},"modified":"2021-03-19T17:01:39","modified_gmt":"2021-03-19T21:01:39","slug":"antonio-rudiger-unwilling-chelsea-contract-talks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2021\/03\/19\/antonio-rudiger-unwilling-chelsea-contract-talks\/","title":{"rendered":"Antonio Rudiger Unwilling to Enter Chelsea Contract Talks"},"content":{"rendered":"

Antonio Rudiger<\/a> is reportedly not ready to hold talks with Chelsea<\/a> over a new contract with the club. The Athletic are reporting<\/a> that the Blues want to open discussions over extending the defender’s stay at Stamford Bridge, but that Rudiger is unwilling to begin negotiations until after this summer’s European Championships.<\/p>\n

The 28-year-old joined Chelsea in a \u00a331 million move from Roma in 2017 and has only 15 months to run on his existing contract.<\/p>\n

Antonio Rudiger Not Ready for Chelsea Contract Talks<\/h2>\n

Defender Almost Left in Last Summer’s Transfer Window<\/h3>\n

Rudiger’s Chelsea future was in doubt under former boss Frank Lampard<\/a>, who often left the German international out of his matchday squads during his tenure.<\/p>\n

As such, the centre-back revealed<\/a> after the first leg of his side’s Champions League<\/a> clash with Atletico Madrid<\/a> that he was close to leaving Stamford Bridge last summer. Rudiger was of interest to Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain<\/a> – then-managed by Lampard’s Chelsea successor Thomas Tuchel – and did consider leaving for the French capital.<\/p>\n

Additionally, Rudiger also held talks with Jos\u00e9 Mourinho over a sensational switch to Chelsea’s London rivals Tottenham Hotspur<\/a>. Neither move ever materialised, and the defender is now enjoying an extended spell in the side under new manager Tuchel.<\/p>\n

Rudiger is Happy at Stamford Bridge<\/h3>\n

Although Rudiger is currently not interested in negotiations over a new contract, it should be stated that he is happy and settled at Chelsea. Speaking to the media before the Premier League side secured their passage into the quarter-finals of the Champions League, Rudiger described the prospect of extending his Chelsea stay as “priority number one” – but only when the time is right.<\/p>\n

To date, Rudiger has made 136 appearances for Chelsea. 12 of those have come in the first 13 matches of Tuchel’s reign at the club as Rudiger’s compatriot enjoys a so-far unbeaten start to life at Stamford Bridge.<\/p>\n

Main Photo<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>