Another Bayern Munich official has commented on the chances of Antonio Rudiger joining the club from Chelsea amid their current contractual uncertainty.
Rudiger is a few months into the final year of his contract at Stamford Bridge. The prospect of it being available for free next year has alerted many European clubs. Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid are among five clubs that have been linked so far. But perhaps the club most likely to sign him would be Bayern Munich, it has been thought.
The German giants could offer Rudiger the opportunity to return to his homeland, where he has not played since leaving Stuttgart for Roma in 2015. After two years in Italy, he secured his transfer to Chelsea. Since then, he has played in more than 150 games and won four trophies.
Rudiger has experienced a professional renaissance since the appointment of Thomas Tuchel in January. Previously it seemed like it was slipping down the pecking order in Chelsea during Frank Lampard’s reign. There was even talk of an exit in 2020.
Now the situation has changed and any exit would go against Chelsea’s wishes. But it still seems like a possible outcome.
Rudiger recently admitted that he was facing the most important decision of his career.but denied having spoken to any other club other than Chelsea, which is trying to extend its contract.
In turn, Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann refused to get into the discussion about the player from another club. He also said he had yet to discuss that matter with sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic, who has now made his own claims about the situation.
Salihamidzic agreed with Nagelsmann that it was not correct to talk about a non-Bayern player, but he questioned the chances of a transfer from Rudiger due to the current options he has on defense.
“It is not right when we talk about players who are in other clubs,” the director told DAZN (via Sport Witness).
“Julian said that about him at the press conference, but he’s a coach who sees a lot of players, so why shouldn’t he evaluate an international and talk about his strengths?
“(Bayern are) really well equipped as a central defender. We have strengthened very well and we have brought in a top player in (Dayot) Upamecano; Lucas Hernández is there, Tanguy Nianzou is there, Benjamin Pavard can also play inside, we really have a very, very good staff.
“We (he and Nagelsmann) have had very little time; I had an appointment today Friday. We didn’t see each other for so long, but we talked a lot about players, of course.
Rudiger Bayern ties match Sule Chelsea rumors
One player Salihamidzic did not mention was Niklas Sule, who like Rudiger is in the final year of his contract. Casually, Chelsea have also been given the opportunity to sign Sule how and when he leaves Bayern.
They would still like to sign one more center-back and their main target remains Jules Kounde from Sevilla. But there may be the opportunity for what would essentially be a Bayern trade between Rudiger and Sule.
That said, Salihamidzic’s latest comments seem to suggest that Rudiger’s future may not be in Munich. Also, Sule is still a Bayern regular and there is an idea that he could discuss a new contract in the new year.
The future of the two defenders is still in doubt until an agreement is reached.
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