CHELSEA’S secret transfer weapon is at it again – with Blues defender Antonio Rudiger admitting he is trying to lure Bayern Munich’s David Alaba to Stamford Bridge.
He was branded ‘agent Rudiger’ by fans after admitting he chatted to Timo Werner and Kai Havertz to help secure their moves in the summer – with Alaba his latest target.
David Alaba has confirmed he is leaving Bayern Munich this summer
The Bayern star has confirmed he is leaving the Allianz Arena after 11 years this summer with Real Madrid favourites to secure his signature.
Alaba wants an eye-watering £400,000-a-week at his new club after growing frustrated with the German champions’ low-ball offers to stay.
Real Madrid are desperate to secure a Sergio Ramos replacement with the Spain captain the subject of a similar contract dispute, but Chelsea’s trump card could be Rudiger’s involvement.
Rudiger told Bild he has already been in contact with the Austrian as he plots his next move, while also revealing he is ready to chat to Jerome Boateng and Niklas Sule if moves for them materialise.
Alaba confirmed his Bayern exit this week, saying: “I have decided to do something new. It wasn’t an easy decision. I have not yet made the decision where to go.
“I have personally decided to see something new, to look for a new challenge. That certainly took its time.”
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Antonio Rudiger has paved the way for several stars to come to Chelsea
He joined the Bundesliga giants as a youth player and is on course to win an incredible tenth league title in Bavaria before leaving for pastures new.
He added: “It’s no secret that my agent is negotiating with other clubs. I am looking for a new challenge to develop myself as a person on and off the pitch.
“Where can I continue to play football successfully? That will certainly be important in my decision.”
Rudiger has found himself back in favour at Chelsea under Thomas Tuchel after slipping down the pecking order with former boss Frank Lampard.
However, the German star said leaving Stamford Bridge was never on his radar during his spell on the sidelines.
He told Sky Sports: “I’m a competitor, I want to play. Obviously it is frustrating and it was the first time in my career I had this type of situation.
“Inside myself, I was always calm and relaxed, I’ll be very honest. I was not going crazy because I was not playing at the beginning and when you’re not in the squad, you think ‘oh wow, what’s happening?’
“But then suddenly I was back in the team. From that moment on, my head was “I’m staying here at Chelsea and trying to fight for my spot”. In the last games of Frank Lampard, I was featuring even more. Lampard in or out, I would have stayed anyway.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk