EPL: Real Madrid players welcome Antonio Rudiger

Chelsea defender, Antonio Rudiger, will join Real Madrid in the summer amid interest from Manchester United, Bayern Munich and other top European clubs.

That is the belief among Real Madrid players who expect the Germany international to quit Stamford Bridge in order to move to the Bernabeu on a free transfer, according to Telegraph.

Rudiger is in the final six months of his Chelsea deal and he rejected the club’s last offer to him, which was worth around £140,000-a-week.

Rudiger wants to be paid £280,000 a week which places him among Chelsea’s top earners.

Chelsea already see this as a problem being that the contracts of the likes of Andreas Christensen, Thiago Silva and Cesar Azpilicueta are also nearing their end.

The club are therefore standing firm as they do not want to be held to ransom but this has given significant hope to Madrid, who are willing to meet Rudiger’s wage demands.

Chelsea have not given up hope of convincing Rudiger to stay and will therefore keep an open dialogue with his representatives.

But the club are also keeping a close eye on Jules Kounde’s situation at Sevilla.