Antonio Rudiger’s Chelsea demands may have made up Marina Granovskaia’s mind on transfer

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Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger will only stay at the club if his £90,000 per week wages are doubled, according to reports. The German looked set for an exit from Stamford Bridge last year after appearing to be surplus to requirements under Frank Lampard. However, since Thomas Tuchel replaced the Englishman as manager, Rudiger has become a pivotal part of this Chelsea team.

He has played in every single minute of the new season’s opening fixtures, even scoring in Chelsea’s Super Cup final penalty shootout victory against Villarreal in August.

But according to German journalist Christian Falk, the Blues will need to double Rudiger’s wages if they are to retain his services.

However, the defender, who was signed by Antonio Conte from Roma for £32million in 2017, has entered the final year of his contract.

His future has been subject to much speculation with the likes of Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, and Paris Saint-Germain interested in the no-nonsense defender.

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The Blues are terrified they could lose him for nothing if he decides to run down his contract upon its expiration on June 30th 2022.

Contract talks between the German and the two-time Champions League winners have lulled as Rudiger wants to weigh up all his options before committing to any decision, according to Sky Sports News.

His importance to The Blues was further illuminated in the opening match of their Champions League defence. Tuchel’s side started strongly with a well fought victory against a very stubborn and physical Zenit St Petersburg side.

His qualities were on display as the German international thwarted the Russian side with countless interceptions, blocks, and headed clearances. It is not the first time Rudiger has shone while operating from the left-hand side of Chelsea’s back three.

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Tuchel has only lost five out of a possible 31 matches when the defender has been on the pitch for Chelsea, further highlighting his vital importance within the side.

23 clean sheets have also been kept with Rudiger within the back three, a remarkable record considering his Chelsea career looked like it was ending this time last year.

Marina Granovskaia is also a huge admirer of the defender’s qualities within the team.

The Blues Director’s decision to allegedly overrule Frank Lampard’s request to sell the German has proved to be an excellent decision.

However, his contract demands will come as a huge surprise to the Blues. While there is no doubting his importance, it would make him Chelsea’s fifth highest earner just behind Ben Chilwell, Timo Werner, N’Golo Kante, and Romelu Lukaku.

At face value, doubling the wages of a player whose value will likely depreciate over the years due to his age may seem risky, but the Blues were willing to pay £180,000 per week net wages to Sevilla defender Jules Kounde.

Chelsea had agreed personal terms with the French defender, but the Spanish side raised the price of the 22-year-old defender at the last minute.

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Granovskaia has a very difficult stick or twist style decision.

While she wants to keep Rudiger, allowing a player to leave for nothing is never an option for the Chelsea director and the board, hence the reason forgotten men such as Tiemoue Bakayoko are still on contract with the club.

If Rudiger does not wish to commit his future to Chelsea, then the club will have to try and find a buyer for him in January if they are to recuperate any money from him. With barely three months until the January transfer window, Chelsea still have time to either find a buyer or commit him to a new deal.

However, his exit from the club could be detrimental, particularly if a suitable replacement is not found.

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