Chelsea ‘offer closer to Rudiger’s £200,000-a-week demands’ after he rejected proposal last week

Chelsea have reportedly made another contract extension offer to keep Antonio Rudiger at the club beyond the end of the season.

Sportsmail revealed the club informally offered the Germany international a new deal worth closer to the £200,000-per-week mark last week.

The improved offer however still fell short of what is required to persuade the Germany international to commit his future to the Stamford Bridge club.

Boss Thomas Tuchel views Germany international Rudiger as crucial to his plans at the Blues

But Goal now claim a bid even closer to that £200,00-per-week demand has been submitted to the 28-year-old and his representatives, with the club desperate not to lose too many defenders on free transfers this summer.

Club captain Cesar Azpilicueta and Rudiger’s fellow Blues centre-back Andreas Christensen are also out of contract in June, with the duo reportedly interesting Barcelona.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain are among the foreign clubs to have offered Rudiger pre-contracts ahead of the summer transfer window, and Manchester United are understood to be watching developments closely too. 

Rudiger knows he can earn as much as £400,000-per-week – inclusive of signing on fees and bonuses – if he leaves Chelsea on a Bosman transfer.

The improved offer from the club’s hierarchy last week fell short of Rudiger’s demands

The Blues are also set to lose Cesar Azpilicueta (left) and Andreas Christensen (right) for free

The former Stuttgart centre-back – whose current pay packet stands in the region of £100,000-per-week – rejected Chelsea’s original offer, believed to be in the region of £140,000-per-week.

The lines of communication between both parties are open with a view to finding a resolution, but Goal claim the Blues will look to Barcelona’s Ronald Araujo if Rudiger departs.

The 21-year-old Uruguay international has 18 months left on his deal with the Catalan giants, while Sevilla star Jules Kounde and Wesley Fofana of Leicester are reportedly other options.

Meanwhile, ahead of Chelsea’s FIFA Club World Cup semi-final against Al Hilal in Abu Dhabi, Spain defender Azpilicueta said: ‘I’m not going to speak about my future. We are one day before the semi-final of the tournament.

‘Of course, I arrived in the summer of 2012 and I didn’t have kids. My kids were born in London and you know how I feel about Chelsea. But I am not going to comment on my future.’

Goal claim the Blues will look to Barcelona’s Ronald Araujo if Rudiger departs this summer

Sevilla star Jules Kounde and Wesley Fofana of Leicester are reportedly other options