EPL: Rudiger to leave Chelsea for Real Madrid – Ex-Blues star, Hasselbaink

Former Chelsea striker, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, believes Antonio Rudiger is set to leave Chelsea for Real Madrid next summer because the defender is going to choose what is best for him.

Rudiger’s current contract at Chelsea will expire at the end of the season.

The 28-year-old Germany star is yet to sign a new deal with Chelsea.

The centre-back is reportedly currently receiving a £90,000 per-week salary at Chelsea and wants over £200,000 for him to sign a new deal, but Chelsea are only willing to pay the player £140,000.

And Hasselbaink believes Chelsea are not in an easy position over Rudiger’s contract situation at Stamford Bridge.

According to him, Rudiger is in a better position because he just plays his football to the best of his ability and the player is going to end up choosing Real Madrid.

“The problem is going to come for Rudiger and Christensen, if they have not signed yet, in March, April, May,” Hasselbaink told Mirror Sport.

“Because if they have got another club, how will they be? How will they perform? That is going to be a problem.

“Can they keep Rudiger? What’s the balance of that? Because if you’ve to replace him like-for-like it is going to cost you a lot of money.

“But on the other hand, you also don’t want him to earn a crazy amount of money, so much more than others as that takes the balance away from the team.

“You have to think about a lot of things. Can you get a replacement? Have you got one? Is it someone who can come through the youth set-up? Is it someone you are going to buy and develop? If that is the case, you’re definitely going to lose another two years to get another Rudiger.

“Chelsea are not in an easy position. It is very difficult. And Rudiger is in a better position because he just plays his football to the best of his ability and he’s going to end up choosing the best thing for him – and that might end up being Real Madrid.”

“I think they want to keep him and they’ve tried to keep him,” he added.

“Obviously, he knows what a player of his stature is worth in this market. And also he’s free, that is the problem.

“If he has two more years and you want to open his contract, then it is a different ball game. But because he’s got seven more months, it is hard. He can ask whatever he wants and then it’s up to Chelsea if they are going to pay him or not.”

Recall that Rudiger had drawn the interest of Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain in the past.

Apart from Rudiger, Chelsea are also yet to extend the contracts of Cesar Azpilicueta, Thiago Silva and Andreas Christensen.